14 runs off 19 balls in 199 chase: KKR fans slam Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer, Kolkata Knight Riders’ most expensive player from the Indian Premier League mega auction, was heavily trolled by fans following his innings against Gujarat Titans on Monday, April 21. Chasing a target of 199 at Eden Gardens, Iyer managed just 14 runs off 19 balls, failing to provide any momentum to KKR’s innings.
Fans were critical of Iyer’s inability to capitalise on favourable matchups, particularly against R Sai Kishore, a bowler he was expected to target. Throughout his innings, Iyer appeared tentative and struggled to find rhythm—an approach that many felt effectively sealed the match in Gujarat’s favour.
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At the time of the mega auction, Iyer was purchased for a whopping Rs 23.75 crore, with the belief that he could eventually lead the KKR side. He was also named deputy to captain Ajinkya Rahane, a seasoned IPL veteran.
During his 19-ball stay, Iyer failed to hit a single boundary, building pressure on Rahane, who was batting at the other end. His sluggish innings also delayed the entry of explosive hitters like Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, and Ramandeep Singh—ultimately contributing to KKR’s defeat.
Fans on social media were ruthless in their criticism, questioning the franchise’s decision to spend such a high amount on Iyer given his performance.
KKR scored a total of 159 runs for the loss of 8 wickets while chasing 199. Angkrish Raghuvanshi provided some late fireworks for KKR, scoring 27* off 13 balls. GT won the fixture by 39 runs and firmed their place at the top of the league table.
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