• Ajinkya Rahane broke silence on Venkatesh Iyer's underwhelming IPL 2025.

  • KKR too delivered a disappointing performance this season.

“I don’t think he…”: Ajinkya Rahane’s remark on Venkatesh Iyer’s price tag after a dismal IPL 2025
Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer (Image Source: X)

Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) captain, Ajinkya Rahane, made a stark remark about Venkatesh Iyer following the end of their campaign in IPL 2025.

Known for his calm and gentle behaviour, Rahane made the statement in the post-match conference following a crushing 110-run defeat at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday. Iyer was the third most expensive player of this season, with a price tag of INR 23.75 crore.

Ajinkya Rahane backs Venkatesh Iyer

On being asked that the expensive price tag may have impacted the performance of players, Rahane took Iyer’s side. He emphasized that a player’s attitude on the field remains consistent regardless of their price tag. He pointed out that the key factor is focusing on controllable aspects of the game. Rahane expressed confidence that Iyer maintained his focus throughout the season.

“Someone’s not going to work doubly harder if he’s getting 20 plus crore, or someone’s not going to work less harder when he’s getting one, two, three crore. Your attitude doesn’t change on the field. As a player, you only focus on the things in your and I felt Venkatesh Iyer was actually focusing on the controllable things, he worked really hard throughout the season,” Rahane stated.

Also WATCH: Dewald Brevis smashes 114-metre six to win INR 2 lakh in Super Sixes Challenge after IPL 2025 match

The KKR skipper also said that every player can go through rough patches and it can happen to anyone. He don’t think it’s about the price tag or even Iyer was thinking about the same. But its just one of those season.

“Well, it is one of the seasons that can happen with any player. I don’t think he was thinking about the price but it those of the season we had to o through,” he added.

Venkatesh Iyer’s poor show with the bat in IPL 2025

Iyer’s batting performance in IPL 2025 fell short of expectations. Despite being one of the most expensive players this season, he struggled to make a significant impact with the bat. His inconsistent form and inability to convert starts into big scores put pressure on his team, KKR. In 11 games he played, Iyer only managed to score just 142 runs at an average of 20, with include one half-century. Fans and experts hoped for better contributions from Iyer, but his poor show highlighted the challenges of living up to a high price tag in a competitive tournament like the IPL.

Also READ: AB de Villiers picks 3 most impressive players in IPL 2025

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

TAGS:

CATEGORY: Ajinkya Rahane Featured IPL Kolkata Knight Riders Venkatesh Iyer

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

About the Author:
Varun Verma is a dedicated cricket enthusiast with a flair for storytelling and in-depth analysis. Combining a deep knowledge of the sport with a talent for engaging content creation, he brings the drama and thrill of the game to life for fans around the world. Drawing inspiration from the grit and passion of players like Ben Stokes, Varun aspires to one day experience the electrifying atmosphere of a Test match at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. He can be reached at varun.verma@crickettimes.com and followed on LinkedIn and X.