IPL 2025: "Doesn't mean I have to score in all games.." KKR's 23.75 Cr buy Venkatesh Iyer breaks his silence

Venkatesh Iyer scored a stunning fifty in the previous game against SRH in IPL 2025.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has hit back at critics after his marvellous batting show in his side’s last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). According to Iyer, higher salary in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 doesn’t mean a player has to score in every game.

The left-handed batter smashed a stunning fifty (60 off 29) in KKR’s last game against SRH. With his knock, he helped KKR post a mammoth total of 200/6 in the first innings. Later, KKR won the match by a huge margin of 80 runs.

Before this game, Iyer got out for single digits (six and three) in his previous two outings in the ongoing IPL 2025, and he faced criticism for the same.

The money doesn’t define how you will play cricket: Venkatesh Iyer

During the post-match press conference of KKR vs SRH match on Thursday, Iyer hit back at critics after his impressive knock. Iyer said a player’s higher salary shouldn’t mean that the player should score in each and every game.

“Once IPL starts, it doesn’t matter whether you were sold for ₹20 lakh or 20 crore. The money doesn’t define how you will play cricket. I know that the question of high payment and expectations will come up a lot, but I am a player who wants to contribute to the team’s success,” the KKR batter said.

“There will be tricky situations when my team will require me to play out a few balls. If I can do that even after not scoring that many runs, I have done the job for my team,” he further added.

Notably, Iyer was the third costliest player bought at the IPL 2025 mega auction for INR 23.75 crores after Rishabh Pant (INR 27 crores) and Shreyas Iyer (INR 26.75 crores). KKR had released him before the auction, but splurged a hefty amount at the auction to get back him.

“It doesn’t mean that I’m the highest-paid cricketer I will have to score in every match. It’s about the impact. Yes, there is some pressure, I won’t lie. The pressure not about money, it is about how can contribute to the team’s success,” concluded Iyer.

KKR to face LSG in their next encounter

Meanwhile, KKR are set to take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their next clash of IPL 2025 on Tuesday, April 8. It will be another home game for the Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens Stadium.

The Ajinkya Rahane-led side have played four games IPL 2025; winning two and losing two. With four points, they are currently positioned fifth in the points table. KKR started their IPL 2025 campaign with a loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru by seven wickets.

Later, they crushed Rajasthan Royals by eight wickets in the second encounter before losing to Mumbai Indians by the same margin in their third game. In their last match, they defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 80 runs.

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