In any sport, big money doesn’t always guarantee big performance — and the Indian Premier League (IPL) is no exception. Every year, massive auction prices grab headlines and fuel fan expectations, but by mid-season, the numbers often tell a different story.
The 2025 edition of the IPL followed last year’s mega auction, where franchises splurged record sums to assemble their squads. The buzz around top buys was sky-high — experts and fans alike closely tracked whether these investments were paying off.
Now, at the halfway stage of the league, with all ten teams having played at least seven of their 14 matches, it’s time to assess the performances of the tournament’s most expensive stars.
Here’s a look at the top five underperformers among the marquee players of IPL 2025 so far:
1. Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants – Rs 27 crore)
The highest-ever price tag in IPL history brought Rishabh Pant to Lucknow Super Giants, along with immense expectations. The India wicketkeeper-batter had made an inspiring return last season after a near-fatal car accident, and his strong showing with Delhi Capitals made him a hot pick. LSG handed him captaincy duties too, expecting leadership and runs.
While the team is faring well — currently fourth on the table with five wins in eight matches — Pant’s personal form has nosedived. He has scored just 106 runs in seven innings at a dismal average of 15.14 and a strike rate below 100. His lone fifty aside, he has struggled to make any significant contribution.
STATS: M: 8 | I: 7 | R: 106 | HS: 63 | Avg: 15.14 | SR: 98.14 | 50s: 1
2. Venkatesh Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders – Rs 23.75 crore)
Kolkata Knight Riders stunned many by shelling out Rs 23.75 crore to re-acquire Venkatesh Iyer, whom they hadn’t retained. But halfway into the season, the gamble appears shaky.
KKR have been inconsistent, sitting at sixth on the table with just three wins from seven games. Iyer, too, has been patchy — a couple of good knocks, including a fifty, but not much else. His strike rate of 155.12 is healthy, but with just 121 runs from five innings, he’s yet to make the kind of impact expected of a top buy.
STATS: M: 7 | I: 5 | R: 121 | HS: 60 | Avg: 24.20 | SR: 155.12 | 50s: 1
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3. Rashid Khan (Gujarat Titans – Rs 18 crore)
Renowned as one of the finest T20 bowlers, Rashid Khan has been a consistent match-winner in previous seasons. Retained by Gujarat Titans for Rs 18 crore — more than skipper Shubman Gill — Rashid was expected to be their bowling spearhead.
However, the Afghan leg-spinner has had an unusually quiet season so far. He has managed just four wickets in seven games at an average of 63.25 and an economy rate of 9.73. While GT have performed well as a unit and sit atop the points table, Rashid’s lack of penetration remains a concern heading into the business end.
STATS: M: 7 | W: 4 | BBI: 2/37 | Avg: 63.25 | Econ: 9.73 | SR: 39.00
4. Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad – Rs 18 crore)
Retained for Rs 18 crore after leading SRH to last season’s final, Pat Cummins has had a tough outing this year. Under his captaincy, SRH have managed only two wins from seven matches, currently sitting ninth in the standings.
Cummins has picked up seven wickets, but his economy rate of 10.21 has been alarming. While he impressed with a 3/26 spell against Mumbai Indians, such performances have been rare. With SRH’s playoff hopes dwindling, the onus is on their skipper to inspire a turnaround.
STATS: M: 7 | W: 7 | BBI: 3/26 | Avg: 36.00 | Econ: 10.21 | SR: 21.14
5. Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians – Rs 16.30 crore)
Rohit Sharma’s knock of 76 against Chennai Super Kings showed flashes of his brilliance, but the overall picture remains underwhelming. Excluding that innings, he scored only 82 runs in six outings — not ideal for an opener of his calibre and value.
MI have found some rhythm recently, climbing to sixth with four wins from eight matches. But if Rohit is to justify his Rs 16.30 crore retention, more consistent and impactful innings will be needed in the second half of the tournament.
STATS: M: 7 | R: 158 | HS: 76* | Avg: 26.33 | SR: 154.90 | 50s: 1
Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don’t miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap.
