IPL 2025: KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane extends support for Venkatesh Iyer after crisis campaign

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After a disappointing IPL 2025 season that saw Kolkata Knight Riders finish outside the playoffs with just five wins in 14 games, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane has come out in support of the team's most scrutinised player - Venkatesh Iyer.

Iyer, who was re-signed using the right-to-match card for a staggering ₹23.75 crore, failed to deliver consistent performances, averaging only 20.28 with the bat.

KKR, the defending champions, struggled throughout the season with inconsistent performances, particularly from their batting unit. They suffered a heavy defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad, conceding 278/3 - the third-highest team total in IPL history - before being bundled out for 168. Earlier, they endured an embarrassing loss while chasing a modest 112 against Punjab Kings and fell short by just four runs in a high-scoring chase against Lucknow Super Giants. Rain interruptions in two games further dented their campaign.

Reflecting on the season, Rahane admitted the team did not meet expectations. "It's just that for us as a team, three-four guys were out of form. Where we faltered was at the batting end. As a batting unit, collectively, we couldn't do well," he said. He emphasised that while some key players like Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh couldn't replicate their 2024 heroics, they had the experience to bounce back.

However, the spotlight remained on Iyer, whose hefty price tag made him a focal point of criticism. Rahane, however, dismissed any notions that the valuation impacted Iyer's approach. "Someone's not going to work doubly harder if he's getting Rs 20 plus crore, or someone's not going to work less harder when he's getting one, two, three crore, whatever it is... your attitude doesn't change on the field. You know, that's what matters. As a player, you only focus on the controllable things. And I felt Venkatesh Iyer was actually focusing on the controllable things," he stated.

Rahane concluded by suggesting that the weight of expectations following last season's triumph might have affected the team's mindset. "When you have a couple of good seasons, as an individual, you put a lot of expectation on yourself. You put pressure on yourself... I'm sure our players will learn from the mistakes. It's a lot to learn from this season, as a team."