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As the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) inches closer to its knockout stages, the playoff picture is becoming clearer with teams like Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians, and Gujarat Titans firmly in the hunt. Meanwhile, heavyweights like Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals have been shown the exit door from the top-four race. While several players have emerged as unexpected heroes this season, others—especially the ones with sky-high price tags—have failed to live up to expectations.
Costly players struggle with form in IPL 2025
The 2025 mega auction created significant buzz, with franchises spending big on proven match-winners. However, some marquee signings have delivered more disappointment than runs or wickets. Rishabh Pant, picked up for a staggering INR 27 crore by Lucknow Super Giants, has turned out to be one of the season’s biggest letdowns. Averaging just over 12 with the bat, Pant hasn’t managed to play a single innings of substance for his side.
Other notable underperformers include Ishan Kishan, Venkatesh Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Rachin Ravindra, and Mohammed Shami—players who were expected to be game-changers but have struggled to find form in crucial moments.
Also WATCH: IPL 2025 – Rishabh Pant’s bizarre dismissal sees him lose both bat and wicket during PBKS vs LSG clash
Iceland Cricket announces ‘Frauds and Scammers’ XI for the ongoing season
Known for their tongue-in-cheek humor, Iceland Cricket have struck again—this time targeting the IPL 2025’s biggest underachievers. In a viral post, they released a mock team named the “Frauds and Scammers XI,” calling out players who’ve failed to meet expectations.
Rahul Tripathi and Ravindra were picked as the openers, both of whom failed to provide reliable starts and often threw away their wickets after getting in. The middle-order featured Kishan, Pant (also named captain and wicketkeeper), Venkatesh, and Maxwell. This core group, expected to anchor and accelerate innings, instead disappointed with poor shot selection and lack of match-winning contributions—Pant being the biggest letdown considering his INR 27 crore price tag.
Liam Livingstone and Deepak Hooda were slotted as lower middle-order all-rounders, but both lacked consistency with the bat and offered little value in their secondary skills. In the bowling department, Ravichandran Ashwin, Matheesha Pathirana, and Shami were named, a trio expected to lead with experience and firepower but who ended up leaking runs and struggling for breakthroughs. Iceland Cricket capped off the post with a jab at Mukesh Kumar, naming him their “No Impact Player,” underlining how even the tactical substitution failed to create any buzz.
On a rain day in Reyjavík, we give you our IPL 2025 frauds and scammers team:
R Tripathi
R Ravindra
I Kishan
R Pant (c & wk)
V Iyer
G Maxwell
L Livingstone
D Hooda
R Ashwin
M Pathirana
M ShamiNo impact player: M Kumar
— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) May 5, 2025
