In what has been a thrilling IPL 2025 opener between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), KKR’s Rs 23.75 crore man Venkatesh Iyer’s woes at the crease were there to be seen. The talented all-rounder was sent packing for a paltry 6 runs off 7 deliveries, courtesy of a clever tactic from RCB’s new recruit Krunal Pandya.
What did Krunal Pandya do vs Venkatesh?
Krunal Pandya’s surprise short-pitched delivery in the 12th over caught Iyer off guard, and the fact that he wasn’t wearing a helmet made the situation even more precarious. Although Iyer managed to evade the bouncer with ease, the psychological impact of the delivery was evident. While the speed of the bouncer attempt wasn’t shown, it was certainly above 110 kmph (looked from the naked eye).
The very next ball, Pandya delivered the knockout blow, castling Iyer with a delivery that angled in slightly. Iyer’s feet were rooted to the crease as he attempted to work the ball into the leg side, only to get a thick inside edge that crashed into the stumps.
Rs 3.95 crore per run in KKR vs RCB clash
Fresh off his extraordinary IPL contract, hopes were put on the shoulders of Venkatesh Iyer. At Rs 23.75 crore, Venkatesh is the fourth-highest-paid player in IPL history. Among Indians, he is the third most expensive. However, the opening match hasn’t gone Venky’s way. He scored six runs, which is approximately Rs 3.95 crore per run! Although it is not fun to come up with these stats this early, the reality of being on a hefty contract is that the player will feel the heat after every appearance.
