The IPL 2026 trade window has kicked off with a bang, sparking plenty of excitement and rumors among fans. With teams looking to regroup after a dramatic 2025 season, trade talks and player transfers are already making waves across social media platforms.

One of the most widely discussed speculations involves Kolkata Knight Riders' dynamic batter, Venkatesh Iyer. Reports have emerged suggesting that KKR is considering a major trade involving Iyer, possibly swapping him with Sunrisers Hyderabad’s explosive batter Ishan Kishan. The rumor has sparked a range of reactions among fans, with both players having significant value to their respective teams.

Though nothing official has been confirmed yet, the possibility of such a high-profile trade has certainly added to the buzz of the ongoing trade window. As franchises prepare for the next season, fans are closely watching every move, hoping for strong squads and exciting cricket ahead in IPL 2026.

See Also: ENG vs IND: Will Jasprit Bumrah Play the 4th Test? Team India’s Assistant Coach Drops a Big Hint

IPL 2026 Trade News: KKR Likely to Part Ways with Star Batter:

Kolkata Knight Riders made headlines during the IPL 2025 mega auction by signing Venkatesh Iyer for a massive ₹23.75 crore. The high price tag made him one of the most expensive players of the season. However, his performance didn’t live up to expectations, turning the big investment into a major concern for the franchise.

Iyer’s poor form was one of the reasons behind KKR’s below-par title defense. Scoring only 142 runs in the entire season, his contribution was far from what was expected for a player who cost nearly one-fifth of the team’s total budget. As a result, reports suggest that KKR is now open to letting him go and cutting their losses.

Sunrisers Hyderabad have shown interest in Iyer and are reportedly exploring a trade, possibly involving Ishan Kishan. Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are also keeping an eye on the situation, with coach Andy Flower previously saying Iyer’s batting style could have flourished in their lineup. This situation reflects how IPL values performance over sentiment.

Venkatesh Iyer highlights a serious talent playing in the ongoing Madhya Pradesh League T20 2025. Iyer is totally impressed after watching a sublime batting performance from a young batter. According to Iyer, captain of the Indore Pink Panthers, Akshat Raghuwanshi is an immensely talented cricketer at the age of only 21.

"The way he played shots all around the ground, at 21, I haven't seen a more talented player. I really keep my fingers crossed; big things are waiting for him in the future," Venkatesh said in an MPL press release.

Raghuwanshi was at his peak when Indore Pink Panthers was toe-to-toe against Jabalpur Royal Lions in Match 5 of the Madhya Pradesh-based franchise tournament at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Stadium, Shankarpur, on Saturday. With the help of seven fours and five sixes, Raghuwanshi played an exceptionally well 76 off 46-ball innings in the match. After losing one of their openers cheaply, it was Akshat who guided Indore to 183/7 after batting first. Skipper Iyer himself went for 16. 

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Iyer's team combined well for the win 

In the next innings, the openers of the Jabalpur Royal Lions played brilliantly and set the stage perfectly for a win. But the middle-order batting lineup did not allow them to stand tall. Despite a partnership of 80 runs from the opening pair and a fifty-plus score from the number seven batter, Lions ended the match far away from a royal victory lap. Venkatesh Iyer took a couple of wickets and 3 scalps for Mihir Hirwani. 

After the match, the Indore skipper said, "The real highlight today was Akshat's batting. The way he played shots all around the ground, at 21, I haven't seen a more talented player. I really keep my fingers crossed; big things are waiting for him in the future... I felt I bowled well, especially since it had been a while since I last bowled."

The cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) is never short of talent. Right from its inception in 2008, all the way to the current 2025 season, the high-octane league has seen the birth of ground-breaking cricketing talent. Whilst there may be no shortage of talent, there are a few unfortunate souls who, despite their prolific stature and hefty price tags, fail to live up to the standards.

In this season alone, we have seen a few flop performances from some of the very best in the business. In this article, we showcase the top five high-profile cricketers who failed to live up to expectations in IPL 2025.

See also: WATCH: Viral moment when Shashank Singh predicted PBKS will end up in top 2 before start of IPL 2025

Rishabh Pant (₹27 crore, Lucknow Super Giants)

Perhaps the most shocking disappointment of all was to see Rishab Pant from LSG falter big time this season. Last year, he was acquired by LSG for a whopping ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive purchase in the history of IPL. Many of his fans, including Sanjeeev Goenka, founder of LSG, had high hopes from him. But contrary to their assumptions, Pant failed to deliver big. As the most expensive player in IPL history, Pant's performance was underwhelming. Pant could only manage 106 runs in seven innings, with an awful average of 15.14 and a strike rate below 100, significantly below expectations. 

Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crore, Kolkata Knight Riders)

Just like Pant, Venkatesh Iyer from KKR also etched his name in the record books by becoming the second-most expensive player in the IPL mega-auction last year. But as fate would have it, Iyer succumbed to the burden of his heavy price tag. In six innings, Iyer managed only 135 runs with a solitary fifty. His highest score was 52* in the 2024 final, but this season, his performances have been inconsistent and disappointing. His score of 7 against DC on April 29th marked his fourth single-digit score, whereas against GT in a must-win fixture, Iyer could only score 14 (19), failing to hit a boundary and struggling to rotate the strike. His inconsistency and lack of impact were major disappointments for KKR this season as the tall all-rounder struggled to justify his hefty price tag. 

Mohammed Shami (₹10 crore, Sunrisers Hyderabad)

The ace Indian speedster's performance has been another source of disappointment for the fans. Being acquired by SRH for a staggering ₹10 crore, Mohammed Shami's performance in IPL 2025 has significantly fallen short of expectations, causing concern among both fans and experts. As a member of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Shami's difficulties have been apparent throughout the season. Across nine matches, Shami could only muster six wickets under his tally, with an alarming economy rate of 11.23. His figures include a particularly dismal performance against Punjab Kings, where he conceded 75 runs in four overs—the most expensive bowling spell by an Indian in IPL history. Subsequently, he also went on to claim an unwanted record of having the second-highest bowling figures in IPL history.

Liam Livingstone (₹8.75 crore, Royal Challengers Bangalore)

England's Liam Livingstone serves as yet another example of how expensive buys can lead franchises to inevitable catastrophes. Although RCB has stormed into the playoffs in blazing fashion, Livingstone's paltry contribution both with the bat and the ball has caught the ire of many fans and cricketing pundits alike. Livingstone has managed only 87 runs in seven matches, averaging 17.40 with a strike rate of 127.94. His sole highlight was a half-century against the Gujarat Titans, but he failed to cross the 20-run mark in subsequent innings. Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary cited Livingstone's poor shot selection and lack of game awareness as the key reasons for his poor show this season. He noted that Livingstone has faced more than 10 deliveries in an innings only once this season, highlighting his inability to build and anchor the innings progressively.

Glenn Maxwell (₹4.2 crore, Royal Challengers Bangalore) 

Maxwell has been a serious contender across several IPL seasons in the past decade. But his performance in the ongoing IPL edition has been nothing short of disappointing. He has clearly had a season to forget, with only 48 runs in seven innings and four wickets at an economy rate of 8.46. His inability to contribute significantly with both bat and ball was a concern for RCB. Batting has surfaced as the primary source of concern for the Australian southpaw. He started his journey poorly this season by registering a golden duck against GT in the tournament opener, marking his 19th duck in the cash-rich league. And to further compound his woes, Maxwell suffered a fractured finger during training in early May, ruling him out for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season. This injury has ended a season that many had hoped would mark a resurgence for the 36-year-old all-rounder.

In a high-octane IPL 2025 clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the iconic Eden Gardens on Wednesday, May 7, fans were surprised to see Venkatesh Iyer missing from KKR’s playing XI. Instead, the experienced Manish Pandey was drafted into the side, bringing a touch of composure to the top order.

KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and chose to bat first, citing the dry but good-looking wicket. "We will look to bat first. Looks a very good wicket. We have seen here the wickets are on the drier side. But this looks a good wicket. In the last two games, we batted first and did really well. We will look to put a good total on the board and defend it," Rahane said at the toss.

The team management made a notable change by replacing Venkatesh Iyer, who has been a key part of KKR’s middle order in recent seasons. While no official statement was provided at the toss regarding Iyer’s absence, sources suggest he has been rested due to a minor niggle and is being preserved for the business end of the tournament. In his place, Manish Pandey, known for his calm demeanor and vast experience, was slotted in. Pandey’s inclusion adds stability and a wealth of experience, especially useful against a seasoned CSK attack.

ALSO SEE:Virat Kohli drops 5 bombshell revelations in latest RCB podcast: Click to read more

Conway Back, Urvil Debuts as Dhoni Feels at Home in Eden Gardens

On the other hand, CSK made a couple of changes as well. Devon Conway returned to the side, adding solidity at the top, while Urvil Patel made his debut for the franchise. Captain MS Dhoni, speaking at the toss, reminisced about his long history with Eden Gardens. “I have played a lot of cricket over here growing up U-16, U-19, club cricket. It’s like a home ground for me,” Dhoni said.

With match number 57 promising fireworks, fans will be keenly watching how the reshuffled lineups perform under pressure.

KKR Playing XI: Gurbaz (wk), Narine, Pandey, Rahane (c), Rinku, Raghuvanshi, Russell, Ramandeep, Moeen, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy

CSK Playing XI: Mhatre, Urvil Patel, Conway, Jadeja, Brevis, Ashwin, Dhoni (c & wk), Kamboj, Khaleel, Noor Ahmad, Pathirana

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) put on a spectacular show at Eden Gardens on April 3, 2025, as they crushed Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with an all-round performance. After a shaky start, Rinku Singh and Venkatesh Iyer led the recovery before KKR’s bowlers dismantled SRH, securing a convincing win. The highlight of the night? A celebratory dance featuring Rinku, Venky, and Dwayne Bravo!

Follow for more: https://www.cricketwinner.com/

Rinku Singh & Venkatesh Iyer stitched Game-Changing Partnership

KKR required a mid-innings push. This was provided by the masterclass duo of Venkatesh and Rinku. Striking 60 off 29 Vanquished deliveries with the bat, including three sixes, seven fours, and some devastation, Venky was simply on another level. On the other hand, Rinku Singh was supporting him exceedingly well too, with some boundaries. Striking 32 off 17, including four boundaries and one six, Rinku came up with the goods too. Their partnership helped KKR set a target of an impressive 200/6 in 20 overs.

Also read: IPL 2025 Points Table, Purple Cap and Orange Cap after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) match

Bowlers from KKR Deliver With Precision To Seal Dominating Control

Following the clinically executed total put on the board, SRH were destroyed; KKR’s bowlers delivered the chaos with excellent precision on the sowing of consistent wickets through delivering controlled, powerful deliveries. The added pressure caused the SRH lineup to crack, and they eventually crumbled under extreme pressure as KKR bowled them out for a mere 120 runs in 16.4 overs. KKR's impressive 80-run defeat not only snatched two points from SRH but also created an opportunity to contest within the IPL 2025 with the fifth spot on the leader-board.

Also read: LSG VS MI : Match 16 Weather and Pitch Report – IPL 2025

Watch Dance Celebration Lights Up Eden Gardens!

Rinku, Venky and Bravo with dance steps. 😂 pic.twitter.com/4hXc7xQsrD

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 3, 2025

After the emphatic win, the atmosphere in the KKR camp was electric. Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, and Dwayne Bravo stole the show with their joyful dance celebration. The trio showcased some energetic moves, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The video of their dance quickly went viral, with fans loving the team’s camaraderie and winning spirit.

With this victory, KKR has made a strong statement in IPL 2025, and their celebratory dance only adds to the entertainment they bring both on and off the field!

Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) attacking all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has been a continuous match-winner against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). With a strong record against the five-time champions, Iyer has been a tough match-up for MI's bowling attack. As KKR prepares to play MI at Wankhede tonight, everyone will be watching Iyer to see if he can continue his impressive form. 

His past performances against MI highlight his dominance:

• 53 off 30 balls
• 51 off 40 balls*
• 43 off 24 balls
• 104 off 51 balls
• 70 off 52 balls
• 42 off 21 balls

⚡𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗜𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗸𝗮 𝗛𝘂𝗸𝘂𝗺 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗜 ⚡

Innings - 6
Runs - 362
Avg - 72.20
SR - 165.29
HS - 104 pic.twitter.com/ZivcvY5EqN

— KKR Vibe (@KnightsVibe) March 30, 2025

Also read:LSG vs PBKS: Match 13 Weather and Pitch report – IPL 2025

With these incredible numbers, Iyer has proven himself a consistent performer against MI. His ability to up the tempo and take on MI bowlers makes him a critical player for KKR in this pivotal match. Is he able to replicate his past feats and lead his team to a win again? Fans will be watching him very closely once he walks into Wankhede tonight.

Ms Dhoni is an great tactician that everyone knowns, he is been doing it for so many years, eventhough at this stage too his skills are so divine that its been appreciated by all players of this generation too. Even Venkatesh Iyer too couldn't hold his emotions on a recent interview. Where he shared a momentum which really stucked into his mind that how Ms Dhoni make use of angles in cricket. 

Even he depicts that cricket is also a game of angles I got to know that day. Venkatesh Iyer is the recent sensation for Kolkata who has sealed the opening slot for him, debuted in 2021 against RCB which was an dream debut for him too. He had a great season that year scoring 300 plus runs and helping his team to reach the final but couldn't able to cross the final line. 

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Iyer with a gripping career

With an impressive first season in Ipl Venkatesh Iyer was fast-tracked into a national team where he made his T20 debut against New Zealand in 2021 where he was picked as a bowling all-rounder and got a chance at the final T20 where he bowled 3 overs giving away 12 runs and picking up 1 wicket. Next year he made his ODI debut against South Africa.  Even though he had played some notable innings against West Indies and Ireland, his attacking approach has been really impressive. 

Which has gained a critical claim on him, In 2022 Ipl he couldn't take part due to injury and made a huge comeback in 2023 IPL where he scored his maiden IPL century against Mumbai Indians, he had a good season there too but team couldn't move further. Even in 2023 IPL auction he was bought back for 23 crores. And he repaid it back with winning them the trophy in 2024.

I was scratching my mind how he did it.

Venkatesh Iyer recalls the memory of an away game held in Chepauk. I remember clearly it was, the second leg of IPL when the two teams met once again Kkr won the game by six wickets but there happened an incident where Venkatesh Iyer was confused about how Dhoni planned his dismissal.  With huge curiosity, he asked Ms Dhoni how he planned his dismissal.

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With Kkr losing their first wicket in first over itself Iyer came at number 3 and started bashing the bowlers. Then Dhoni asked Ravindra Jadeja to move to short third region. The next ball he straightly hit back to Jadeja , what Dhoni did placed the fielder slightly away from the short third man actually stands that's the trick and slight adjacement he makes which amazes us.  

I asked him later, how he did that, Dhoni's reply was simple he wanted to understand or to see the impact of the ball from his bat and the angles from which the ball deviates more and he got to know if I hit the ball it will go to that direction and exactly which I did played the shot there, I was just amazed by his proactive approach, even the camera showed exactly what happened, I said to myself he is such a class. 

Current defending Champions Kolkata Knight Riders had a great auction before the IPL 2025, though there were quite setbacks when Shreyas Iyer the former captain left the team for the credibility issues. However, the team had moved on from that and they replaced the same replica of the person who understood the game better. They bought Rahane at the cost of 1.5 crore which could be considered as the best deal of all. 

Read More: How To Buy RR Vs MI Match 50 Tickets - IPL 2025

The amount of experience Rahane posses in that camp is just invaluable. Retaining the core team and adversing the new talents strains Kolkata into the final 4 of this IPL edition too.In this edition there are players who can strom this IPL season with their innovative batting style. 

The first on our list is - 

1  Ajinkya Rahane

     Rahane might be considered as slow starter or carrier of the team but the recent form and the way he played in the previous season are the testiments that Rahane could be the x factor for Kolkata. From 2023 he has stellar performance for CSK where he had the strike rate of 199 and scored 209 runs comparing to last year it is quite impressive where he just possesed a strike rate of 103 and scoring just 133 runs. 

Rahane has improved a lot as a t20 player and the additional responsibility of captaincy would strive him more as player and enchance the confidence beneath him. 

2. Venkatesh Iyer

  Venkatesh Iyer has been the best opener for KKR where he debuted in 2021 where he had a stellar performance in 10 games scoring 350 runs where they finished as runners up in that season and Iyer established himself as prominent opener. He established himself in 2022 too where he had a good season but later suffering from injury he had to skip the next season. 

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Iyer was back in 2024 he was not just back but was impactful then way earlier he just devasted the opening slot scoring 370 in that season with an average of 46.89 with a strike rate of 158. Yet it seems Iyer hasn't shown his full potential he may be a dangerous customer for other teams in this upcoming season. 

3. Andre Russell

 The muscle man is no need of introduction of his finishing abilities which he is been doing for KKR for years. If he stands on the ground that means any bowler in the world is small for him. He has played some of the crucial knocks which is never been expected. The type of pressure handling he does and range of hitting is quite insane.

He posses the strike rate of 170 at the death overs of the game. Where his valuable efforts are still in praise. In this season too he can create a huge impact with his all round abilities too which can help KKR to attain their fourth title. 

4. Manish Pandey

 Manish Pandey who started his career as an opener then later moved onto the middle order batsman. Started his career with Royal Challengers Banglore where stretched with Virat Kohli's stature though he had a good flow of runs too. But due to inconsistency he had to travel to many teams. Scoring runs was never an issue but the template of consistency has been lacking. 

In this season he has been picked by Kolkata once again for 75 Lakhs. He is considered as best middle order batsman for now who manages the role and this year without absence of Shreyas Iyer he can play the middle order role for the team. 

5. Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine the spin web and the pinch hitter of the team has gained widespread recognition where it all started with Gautam Gambhir who promoted him to the top order during his captaincy tenure in 2017, from there it was no looking back for Narine. With KKR he has won three titles from 2012,2014 and now it's 2024. He has won it in different phases which makes him more elite. There is no intro for his spin bowling which can be heavily handy. 

He can play the role of same all rounder for the team, that's what makes kolkata a dangerous side where their players posses both kind of talents so it kindly helps them to generate the game. 

These players are considered as the X factor for this season it would be epicable if they added some experienced coach pool too Csk Dwayne Bravo as bowling coach can be very handy that reciprocates KKR are on a hunt to retain their title. 

Kolkata Knight Riders the current defending Champions Of IPL 2025 have announced their Captain and Vice Captain. After the season of IPL 2024, Shreyas Iyer parted ways from the Kolkata franchise which has been bought by Punjab Kings for 26.5 crores who is the second highest bidder in the history of IPL. Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir's combination was spontaneous last season which helped them to attain their third IPL title. 

In this IPL auction Kolkata has acquiped some extensive buys and reframed their core team without disturbing much. This year Kolkata Knight Riders have acquired Dwayne Bravo as their mentor who has tons of experience enhancing with Chennai Super Kings these many years. Gautam Gambhir had to left the position as he got an offer from BCCI to become the head coach of Indian team. 

Read More: The Roar Of Most Balanced Side VS Most Consistent Side In Champions Trophy

Rahane And Venkatesh Iyer To Lead The Team

As earlier mentioned in this year's auction Kolkata has bought some exciting talents which has reframed their core team. The best example of this is Ajinkya Rahane. He was bought by KKR for 1.5 crore which is considered a good steal. The kind of experience the former captain and vice-captain of India Rahane possesses is truly exceptional which can lead a new way to the franchise. He has been appointed as KKR captain for this season

Rahane is been part of IPL since his inception but majorly played for Rajasthan Royals. In between the RR suspension he has led the Rising Pune Super Gaints team and after upliftment back to Royals where he led there too and made into play offs. But didn't reached finals, Rahane has led 25 games as captain in which he has won 9 and lost 16.

Read More: Ms Dhoni Marks His Last Dance In IPL

Venkatesh Iyer who has been integral part of Kolkata Knight Riders as opener has been retained back for 23.5 crores and he has named as KKR vice captain who will be under the guidance of Rahane. The dynamic opener has been an key asset to KKR. 

A New Way Of Thinking

KKKR have moved on and they have got new dynamics this year. Rahane as captain, Venkatesh Iyer as their vice captain and Dwayne Bravo as their mentor. Both Rahane and Bravo have been part of Chennai Super Kings too. So the mamoth experience will be very crucial for KKR this season. The calm tendency of Rahane replicate in his captaincy and fiery pace of Venkatesh will be very useful for Rahane and co to cop up the balance. 

Team CEO Venky Mysore too clearly depicted in his press conference that buying Rahane for 1.5 crore is a huge plus point for us. I have been a huge fan of his and think we as a team will recreate the magic as we did earlier. 

IPL 2025 Schedule: Latest Updates and Key Highlights

The excitement for IPL 2025's 18th edition has reached its highest point as it awaits the officially announced schedule by the fans. Though the BCCI has revealed that IPL 2025 would start on 21 March, 2025, the official schedule for this is to come out within a week 

Key IPL 2025 News.
1. Date of Commencement and Last Venue
The tournament will start from 21 March, 2025: Rajeev Shukla, IPL chairman.
The last match would be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on May 25, 2025.

2. Home Ground Change for Two Teams
Two matches of Delhi Capitals will be played in Visakhapatnam (Vizag) instead of Delhi.
Rajasthan Royals will play two home games at a neutral venue, whose venue is to be decided yet.

🚨 IPL 2025 SCHEDULE WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK 🚨 (Sports Tak). pic.twitter.com/OQMA8iL6ul

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) February 10, 2025

3. Playoff Venues
The first two playoff matches will be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.
The second playoff and the grand final will be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

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IPL 2025 Mega Auction Summary
The just concluded IPL 2025 Mega Auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia saw some intense bidding wars as franchises splurged ₹639.15 crore on 182 players.

Best Purchases of IPL 2025 Auction:

• Rishabh Pant- He is now the most costliest player in IPL history at a price of ₹27 crore
  
• Shreyas Iyer- He holds the second-costliest price at ₹26.75 crore
  
• Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crore)

Sold but Unsold Players

• David Warner
  
• Prithvi Shaw
  
• Shardul Thakur