5 Most Expensive Players: With only three teams left competing for the ultimate T20 franchise cricket championship, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for an exciting finale. Over the past ten weeks, IPL 2025 has thrilled fans with high-octane action and fierce battles between players, with just two games remaining.

Players have already smashed over 1,200 sixes and nearly 2,200 fours this season, delivering nonstop entertainment for supporters of all teams. However, several high-profile players from some clubs have struggled to perform well in IPL 2025.

These are the five most costly IPL 2025 blunders as the final games get near.

1. Rishabh Pant: LSG

After KL Rahul left, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) urgently needed a new captain and worked hard to acquire Rishabh Pant. LSG secured the daring wicketkeeper-batsman for ₹27 crore, outbidding competitors like Punjab Kings.

However, Pant struggled to justify his price tag during IPL 2025, as LSG failed to qualify for the playoffs. His poor batting form and several questionable captaincy decisions led to a tough season and made him the subject of social media memes. In the final league match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Pant redeemed himself with a spectacular century. Unfortunately, LSG had already been knocked out of playoff contention, so it was too little, too late. To add to the disappointment, LSG lost the match at their home ground, Ekana Cricket Stadium.

2. Venkatesh Iyer – KKR

After losing star skipper Shreyas Iyer ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spent big to secure top-order batsman Venkatesh Iyer, paying ₹23.75 crore at the auction. However, Iyer failed to live up to expectations and couldn’t handle the pressure of his hefty price tag. He never found form during the season, and KKR finished sixth in the league stage.

Despite his talent, Iyer struggled with the bat, partly due to being shuffled down the order, which likely contributed to his poor run. In their final league match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, which SRH won by a crushing 110 runs, KKR dropped Iyer for the second time in the season, hinting at doubts about his future with the franchise. By benching him again, KKR appeared ready to move on from their expensive “mistake.”

3. Mohammad Shami – SRH

In a bid to strengthen their bowling attack with an experienced new-ball specialist, Sunrisers Hyderabad,  last season’s runners-up, spent ₹10 crore to bring in Mohammad Shami. However, Shami failed to deliver, managing just six wickets all season while struggling with economy.

The 34-year-old endured a disappointing campaign, and so did SRH, who ultimately finished sixth in the table. Despite ending the league stage with a hat-trick of wins that lifted them from the bottom, the team couldn’t make the playoffs.

Shami couldn’t stem the flow of runs during the powerplay or death overs and failed to take key wickets, making him a shadow of his former self. His season ended on a sour note, not only did SRH miss the playoffs, but Shami also missed out on India’s tour of England.

4. Ravichandran Ashwin – CSK

Although fans were excited when CSK brought back their “prodigal son,” R. Ashwin’s return to his hometown franchise turned out to be far from joyous. CSK expected the veteran off-spinner to lead their bowling attack, but his lackluster performance contributed to the five-time champions finishing last this season.

Ashwin’s struggles looked even worse considering CSK plays its home games on the spin-friendly tracks of the MA Chidambaram Stadium, conditions that Afghanistan’s left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad exploited brilliantly. The 24-year-old claimed 24 wickets in 14 matches, emerging as the lone bright spot in CSK’s disappointing campaign. With CSK likely to undergo a major overhaul before the 2026 Indian Premier League, Ashwin’s future with the team remains uncertain.

5. Jake Fraser-McGurk – DC

After a stellar IPL 2024 season, Delhi Capitals (DC) retained 23-year-old top-order batsman Jake Fraser-McGurk for ₹9 crore. The aggressive right-hander carried a strong reputation into IPL 2025, but his form collapsed mid-season, leading the team to drop him.

Fraser-McGurk managed just 55 runs in 6 innings, struggling to time the ball and failing to deliver consistent performances. As a result, DC dropped him from the playing XI. Shaken by the pressure, he chose not to return to Australia after the IPL 2025 was temporarily suspended due to military tensions between India and Pakistan. Given his poor showing this season, officials suggest that his exclusion from the Washington franchise may become permanent.

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