• KKR's Venkatesh Iyer found himself at the receiving end of fan outrage following a disappointing performance against GT in IPL 2025.

  • Iyer crawled to 14 runs from 19 balls at a strike rate of just 73.68, failing to hit even a single boundary.

“23.75 cr fraud”: Fans brutally troll KKR star Venkatesh Iyer after poor show with the bat against GT
Fans troll Venkatesh Iyer for his poor batting show (Image Source: X)

Table of Contents

Kolkata Knight Riders‘ premium signing, Venkatesh Iyer, found himself at the receiving end of fan outrage following a disappointing performance against Gujarat Titans (GT) at Eden Gardens on April 21. The left-handed batter, who was roped in for a staggering INR 23.75 crore during the IPL mega auction, failed to deliver once again—prompting a wave of harsh criticism online.

Venkatesh Iyer’s slow knock derails KKR’s chase

Chasing a challenging target of 199, Iyer looked completely out of rhythm and failed to provide any momentum during the Powerplay. He crawled to 14 runs from 19 balls at a strike rate of just 73.68, failing to hit even a single boundary. The slow knock increased pressure on the batting unit and eventually played a role in derailing KKR’s chase.

On a surface where timing the ball wasn’t easy, Iyer was expected to anchor the innings before unleashing, but his hesitance and failure to capitalize on matchups—especially against R Sai Kishore—became a talking point.

Fans troll Iyer for below-par performance against GT

Iyer’s slow innings meant the likes of Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, and Ramandeep Singh were forced to wait longer before coming in to bat—limiting their impact in a high-stakes chase. His inability to rotate strike or break free ultimately allowed the Titans’ bowlers to tighten the screws.

Also READ: IPL 2025: KKR fans erupt in anger as Ajinkya Rahane’s side surrenders to Gujarat Titans in a disappointing defeat

Fans did not hold back, taking to social media with memes, sarcastic comments, and even calling him a “23.75 crore fraud”—a direct reference to his auction price tag. Many questioned whether the hefty investment was justified based on his recent form.

Here is how fans reacted:

With the business end of the season approaching, Kolkata will be hoping for a turnaround in form from Iyer, who has so far failed to live up to expectations. The team’s campaign could hinge on how their big-money player responds to growing scrutiny and pressure from both fans and experts.

Also WATCH: Washington Sundar outfoxes Ajinkya Rahane with a clever delivery during KKR vs GT match in IPL 2025

Subscribe to Cricket Times on YouTube to watch Exclusive Interviews, Podcasts, Daily News Updates & Explainers.

TAGS:

CATEGORY: Featured IPL Kolkata Knight Riders Twitter Reactions Venkatesh Iyer

For latest cricket news and updates, subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter.

About the Author:
AKSHAT GAUR
Akshat is the Sr. Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Akshat has honed his skills over 6 years, working with various media outlets, publications, and organizations to deliver high-quality content that informs, educates, and entertains audiences. He is just another cricket fan who’s grown up watching the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Cricket runs in his veins. Cover drive is his favorite sight, and a ball meeting the middle of the bat is his favorite sound. You can write to him at akshat.gaur@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.