IPL 2025: 3 Expensive KKR signings who turned out to be major flops

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a disappointing IPL 2025 despite entering the tournament as defending champions. After lifting the title in 2024, expectations were high, especially from their top players—more so after the significant money spent on them in the mega auction. 

But the team failed to deliver and ended the season in eighth place with 12 points from 14 games and a net run rate of -0.305.

Here are the three expensive KKR signings who turned out to be major flops in IPL 2025:

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KKR spent a massive INR 23.75 Crore to buy back Venkatesh Iyer ahead of the 2025 season. From 2021 to 2024, he had played only for KKR, but the franchise did not retain him before the auction. 

However, they broke the bank to reacquire him and also named him vice-captain. Unfortunately, Iyer completely failed to repay the faith, scoring just 142 runs in 11 matches, including one fifty. He was also ruled out toward the end of the tournament due to injury.

Rinku Singh

KKR retained Rinku Singh for INR 13 Crore with hopes that he would deliver consistent performances throughout the season. But Rinku managed only 206 runs in 11 innings at an average of 29.42 and a strike rate of 153.73. He failed to cross the 40-run mark even once during the campaign. 

Rinku is known for his consistency despite playing aggressive shots down the order. Not only for KKR, in the last few years, for India also, he has shown his capability as a finisher and hence, retaining him seemed to be a correct decision but that did not work well this recent season.

Andre Russell

Veteran middle-order batter and pace-bowling all-rounder Andre Russell was retained for INR 12 Crore. A part of the KKR setup since 2014, expectations were high that he would once again perform the finisher’s role effectively. However, Russell failed to live up to those expectations. 

With the bat, he scored just 167 runs in 10 innings, including one fifty. With the ball, he picked up eight wickets. His inconsistency down the order hurt KKR’s chances, whether they were setting a target or chasing one.

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