As the IPL 2025 season unfolds with high-octane drama and fierce competition, some of the tournament’s most expensive players have found themselves under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Despite franchises shelling out massive sums at the auction and through retentions, several high-profile names are yet to deliver, raising concerns among fans and team managements alike.
Here’s a look at five big-ticket players whose performances have fallen short of expectations so far.
Rishabh Pant – ₹27 Crore (Lucknow Super Giants)
The biggest buy of the season, Rishabh Pant was expected to be LSG’s X-factor. However, the move has backfired—at least so far. Batting five times in six matches, the wicketkeeper-batter has managed only 40 runs. What’s more concerning is his sluggish strike rate of 80.00 after facing 50 deliveries. With an average of just 8.00, Pant’s form is a massive concern for Lucknow’s playoff ambitions.
Venkatesh Iyer – ₹23.75 Crore (Kolkata Knight Riders)
KKR showed immense faith in Venkatesh Iyer, retaining him for a whopping ₹23.75 crore. But after six matches, he has scored only 114 runs. While his average hovers slightly above 28, the lack of impactful innings or consistency has dented KKR’s top-order stability.
Yuzvendra Chahal (₹18 Crore, Punjab Kings)
Punjab Kings splurged ₹18 crore on Yuzvendra Chahal, expecting a spin wizard to turn games their way. Instead, they’ve got a bowler still searching for rhythm. In five appearances, Chahal has taken only two wickets and has gone for over 11 runs per over. His inability to bowl out his full quota in multiple games signals a worrying lack of confidence from the team.
Rashid Khan (₹18 Crore, Gujarat Titans)
Known for his match-winning spells and miserly economy, Rashid Khan has been surprisingly off-color this season. The Afghan spinner has claimed only three wickets in five games and has leaked runs at an economy rate of 10.00. His bowling average stands at a concerning 60, highlighting his lack of impact in the middle overs.
Rohit Sharma (₹16.30 Crore, Mumbai Indians)
A seasoned campaigner and one of the league’s most recognizable faces, Rohit Sharma’s start to IPL 2025 has been forgettable. In five games, the former MI captain has mustered only 56 runs, looking out of sync and short on fluency. For a player of his stature and salary, the bar is far higher—and the current output is nowhere near it.
