IPL 2025 Worst Buy Players

IPL 2025 Top 3 Worst Buy Players: Biggest Auction Flops That Disappointed Fans

The IPL 2025 auction was one of the most exciting and controversial in recent times. While many players justified their price tags with outstanding performances, some big-money buys failed to deliver, becoming the biggest disappointments for their franchises and fans alike. In this post, we’ll dive into the top 3 worst buy players of IPL 2025 — who they are, why their performance was underwhelming, and what went wrong with these high-profile signings.

1. Ravichandran Ashwin (Chennai Super Kings – ₹9.75 Crore)

Chennai Super Kings invested ₹9.75 crore in the experienced off-spinner expecting him to be their bowling spearhead. However, Ashwin’s IPL 2025 season was far below expectations:

Matches Played: 12

Wickets Taken: 10

Economy Rate: 8.2 runs per over

Average: 38.5

Despite his vast experience, Ashwin struggled to take wickets consistently and leaked too many runs, especially in the death overs. His fitness issues led to missed matches, further denting his impact.

This performance made many question CSK’s decision to spend so heavily on him.

2. Venkatesh Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders – ₹23.75 Crore)

KKR shocked fans by spending nearly ₹24 crore on Venkatesh Iyer, expecting an all-round boost. Unfortunately, his IPL 2025 campaign was disappointing:

Matches Played: 14

Runs Scored: 320

Batting Average: 22.85

Strike Rate: 120.4

Wickets Taken: 8

Iyer’s batting form was inconsistent, and he failed to play any match-winning innings. His bowling was economical but lacked penetration, and he couldn’t rise to the occasion in crunch moments.

The huge investment on Iyer was widely criticized as poor team management.

3. Ishan Kishan (Sunrisers Hyderabad – ₹11.25 Crore)

Sunrisers Hyderabad surprised fans by paying ₹11.25 crore for Ishan Kishan despite already having strong options in the top order. Kishan’s IPL 2025 season failed to impress:

Matches Played: 13

Runs Scored: 275

Batting Average: 19.64

Strike Rate: 118.7

Kishan struggled to maintain a high strike rate and frequently got out early, affecting SRH’s top order stability. His inconsistency cost the team several important matches.

Experts pointed out that SRH’s strategy of investing heavily in Kishan did not pay off.

Why These Big Money Buys Failed in IPL 2025

The IPL auction is always a gamble, and these three players show how expensive investments don’t always guarantee success. Factors behind their underperformance include:

Inconsistent form and inability to handle pressure situations.

Injuries and fitness struggles (especially Ashwin).

Team strategies that didn’t leverage their strengths effectively.

High expectations possibly affecting confidence and performance.

Final Thoughts: Lessons From IPL 2025’s Worst Buys

The IPL 2025 auction proved that big-money signings come with big risks. Franchises need to balance star power with current form, fitness, and team dynamics to avoid costly mistakes. Ashwin, Iyer, and Kishan’s performances highlight the importance of these factors beyond just price tags. Both franchise owners and fans will hope these players bounce back stronger in future IPL seasons.