IPL 2025: Venkatesh Iyer Called ‘Biggest Fraud' as KKR Fans Lose Patience After Another Failure

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Kolkata Knight Riders' 2025 season has taken a sharp downward spiral, and fans have singled out vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer as the chief culprit. In their latest fixture against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Iyer once again failed to step up when it mattered most.

His soft dismissal to Axar Patel - a mistimed heave resulting in a simple catch at mid-on - further intensified the backlash, with fans erupting on social media, branding him "the biggest fraud in IPL history".

This was Iyer's 10th match of the season, and yet his aggregate stands at a paltry 142 runs - an average barely scratching the surface for a player who fetched a jaw-dropping ₹23.75 crore at the last auction. The pressure was already mounting, but the stakes in this game made his failure more glaring. Kolkata, defending champions, are on the brink of missing out on the playoffs, and this clash was a virtual must-win to stay in the hunt.

KKR had a brisk start, with Sunil Narine taking the attack to Delhi's seamers early in the powerplay. Ajinkya Rahane chipped in with some fluent strokes too, but the momentum began to slip once the spinners took control. Vipraj Nigam and Axar Patel triggered a middle-order collapse, with Iyer's innings lasting just six deliveries. His dismissal was not only poorly executed but also untimely, considering KKR had just lost Rahane.

Social media, as expected, was ruthless. Fans voiced frustration with Iyer's lack of intent and failure to deliver under pressure. "Venkatesh Iyer is nothing short of a ₹23.75 crore scam," one wrote. Another added, "He's a walking wicket, dragging KKR down all season." The pattern was clear - patience has run out.

There's also growing discontent with the management. Several fans accused the KKR leadership of squandering a winning formula by investing heavily in Iyer. "One single decision by brainless Venky Mysore completely destroyed a champion side," read a particularly scathing post. Many questioned the rationale behind naming Iyer vice-captain and pegging the team's batting hopes on a player whose last impactful season came years ago.

With KKR still chasing playoff qualification, the timing of this slump couldn't be worse. The team's inconsistency has become a major concern, especially with their top order repeatedly crumbling under spin pressure - something that Iyer, despite being an Indian batter familiar with such conditions, has shown no signs of mastering.

The remaining games will be make-or-break for Kolkata. But if Venkatesh Iyer's form doesn't turn around, it's hard to see how they can recover momentum. The fans have spoken, and the franchise has a major decision looming not just for this season - but for the future of their leadership core.