Mon Apr 21 16:30:00 UTC 2025: **KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer Continues to Struggle, Fails to Deliver on Mega Price Tag**

Kolkata, India – Venkatesh Iyer’s underwhelming performance continues to plague Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The 23.75 crore INR signing once again failed to deliver, scoring a meager 14 runs off 19 balls against Gujarat Titans (GT) at Eden Gardens on Monday. His slow knock, lacking any boundaries, hampered KKR’s chase of 199 runs and drew heavy criticism on social media.

Iyer’s performance is a far cry from expectations set by his hefty price tag. His current season statistics – 129 runs in 8 matches at an average of 25.80 – highlight his struggles. The pressure of his high price seemingly continues to affect his batting.

While skipper Ajinkya Rahane fought valiantly with a half-century, Iyer’s slow innings put additional pressure on his partner. He was eventually dismissed for 14 by R Sai Kishore.

GT had earlier posted a challenging 198/3, thanks largely to a 114-run opening partnership between Shubman Gill (90 runs, 10 fours, 3 sixes) and Sai Sudharsan (52 runs). Gill narrowly missed out on a century, while Jos Buttler contributed an unbeaten 41. KKR’s early loss of openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (1) and Sunil Narine (17) further compounded their difficulties. The match ultimately showcased the stark contrast between Iyer’s underperformance and the impressive batting displays from other players.

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