IPL 2025: Swastik Chikara with Virat Kohli

Players who deserved a chance but were benched all IPL 2025

IPL 2025: Players who deserved a chance but were benched all season

<p>It is hard to maintain consistency in a highly-competitive tournament like the Indian Premier League (IPL). While there were some fantastic performances in the 18th edition, others failed to make a mark.</p>
<p>Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their maiden IPL title after beating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final on Tuesday, June 3, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Virat Kohli starred with the bat for RCB throughout the campaign and also in the final. The winner of the Orange Cap in IPL 2024 finished as the third-highest run-getter this season. However, several players couldn't show such remarkable consistency.</p>
<p>In this article, CricTracker looks at five players who were successful in IPL 2024 but couldn't repeat their heroics this season.</p>
<h3>5. Jake Fraser-McGurk</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1745055654396_Jake-Fraser-McGurk.jpeg" alt="Jake-Fraser-McGurk" width="960" height="600" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Jake-Fraser-McGurk. (Photo source: X)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/jake-fraser-mcgurk/">Jake Fraser-McGurk</a></strong> became the talk of the town after lighting up IPL 2024 with some blistering hitting for the Delhi Capitals (DC). He went after the bowlers from the get-go and hit boundaries for fun. The opening batter amassed 330 runs from nine matches at a commendable average of 36.67 and a mind-boggling strike rate of 234.04.</p>
<p>DC re-signed him for INR 9 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction. The right-handed batter was expected to go from strength to strength this season. However, he looked terribly out of sorts and went on to lose his place in the side mid-way through the tournament. Fraser-McGurk only scored 55 runs in six matches at an average of 9.17 and a strike rate of 105.77.</p>
<div class="ct-read-more ct-box mceNonEditable" data-label-text="Read More" id="683c25f70b80dcf6dfcb9f40" data-fantasy-id="" data-msg="Read More: cricket-appeal/ipl-2025-players-who-deserved-a-chance-but-were-benched-all-season"></div>
<p></p>
<h3>4. Harshal Patel</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1746777400588_FotoJet---2025-05-09T132436.jpeg" alt="Harshal Patel" width="960" height="600" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Harshal Patel (Source: Getty Image)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/harshal-patel/">Harshal Patel</a> </strong>won the Purple Cap in IPL 2024 while playing for Punjab Kings. The right-arm seamer finished with a magnificent tally of 24 wickets from 14 matches at an average of 19.88. In the IPL 2025 mega auction, he was roped in by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 8 crore.</p>
<p>The 34-year-old played 13 matches in IPL 2025 and managed only 16 wickets at an average of 26.88. Eight of these wickets came in two games, showing that his renowned wicket-taking ability wasn't on display in the recently-concluded edition.</p>
<div class="ct-read-more ct-box mceNonEditable" data-label-text="Also Check" data-title="IPL 2025: 3 Players who were underutilized by Rajasthan Royals" data-url="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-appeal/ipl-2025-3-players-who-were-underutilized-by-rajasthan-royals" data-msg="Also Check: https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-appeal/ipl-2025-3-players-who-were-underutilized-by-rajasthan-royals"></div>
<p></p>
<h3>3. Andre Russell</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1744736817217_Andre-Russell.jpeg" alt="Andre-Russell" width="960" height="600" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Andre-Russell. (Photo source: X/IPL)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/andre-russell/"><strong>Andre Russell</strong></a><strong> </strong>contributed with both bat and ball in IPL 2024, helping Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) win the title after 10 years. The talismanic all-rounder scored 222 runs from nine innings in IPL 2024. The runs came at an average of 31.71 and a strike rate of 185. With the ball, Russell accounted for 19 wickets from 15 matches, averaging 15.53.</p>
<p>Russell was retained by KKR on expected lines. However, he failed to live up to his reputation as a match-winning cricketer. He had his least productive season with the bat since IPL 2020. The Jamaican cricketer scored 167 runs at an average of 18.56, and his strike rate dropped to 163.73. His campaign with the ball was worse as he finished with eight wickets from nine innings at an average of 27.13.</p>
<div class="ct-read-more ct-box mceNonEditable" data-label-text="Also Check" data-title="IPL 2025: 3 Players who were underutilised by KKR" data-url="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-appeal/ipl-2025-3-players-who-were-underutilised-by-kkr-3886" data-msg="Also Check: https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-appeal/ipl-2025-3-players-who-were-underutilised-by-kkr-3886"></div>
<p></p>
<h3>2. Rishabh Pant</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1743831357708_Rishabh-Pant.jpeg" alt="Rishabh Pant" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Rishabh Pant (Source: Surjeet Yadav/MB Media/Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/rishabh-pant/"><strong>Rishabh Pant</strong></a><strong> </strong>made a comeback to competitive cricket during IPL 2024 after being sidelined for 14 months following a horrific car accident. He led DC to a No. 6 finish on the points table, missing out on a playoffs berth on net run rate (NRR). The star wicketkeeper performed well with the bat, scoring 446 runs from 13 matches at an average of 40.55 and a strike rate of 155.40. Apart from IPL 2018, when he averaged 52.61, Pant had never finished an IPL season with an average of over 40 heading into this season.</p>
<p>Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) acquired the services of Pant for a record-shattering INR 27 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction. The Delhi cricketer was appointed as the captain of the side. However, he only managed 269 runs from 14 matches at an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133.17. His numbers would have looked even more worrisome had he not scored an exhilarating century in LSG's last game of the season against eventual champions RCB.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>1. Venkatesh Iyer</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1731595849114_Venkatesh-Iyer.jpeg" alt="Venkatesh Iyer" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Venkatesh Iyer. (Source - Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>KKR turned heads when they signed <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/venkatesh-iyer/">Venkatesh Iyer</a></strong> for a staggering INR 23.75 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction. This forced them to miss out on players like Mitchell Starc, Phil Salt, and Co. These players had played a massive role in KKR becoming champions in IPL 2024. However, Venkatesh, who scored fifties in Qualifier 1 and the final, was backed by the management.</p>
<p>Venkatesh played 15 matches in IPL 2024 and scored 370 runs at an average of 46.25 and a strike rate of 158.80. However, in IPL 2025, the Madhya Pradesh cricketer only managed 142 runs from 11 matches at a dismal average of 20.29, and the strike rate also dropped to 139.22. It was surprising to see that Venkatesh didn't get a single over in the tournament. He was eventually dropped for the last few KKR games this season.</p>
<div class="ct-read-more ct-box mceNonEditable" data-label-text="Also Check" data-title="I feel Venkatesh Iyer would have had a really great season had he played for us: RCB head coach Andy Flower" data-url="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/i-feel-venkatesh-iyer-would-have-had-a-really-great-season-had-he-played-for-us-rcb-head-coach-andy-flower" data-msg="Also Check: https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/i-feel-venkatesh-iyer-would-have-had-a-really-great-season-had-he-played-for-us-rcb-head-coach-andy-flower"></div>
<p></p>

<p>It is hard to maintain consistency in a highly-competitive tournament like the Indian Premier League (IPL). While there were some fantastic performances in the 18th edition, others failed to make a mark.</p>
<p>Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their maiden IPL title after beating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final on Tuesday, June 3, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Virat Kohli starred with the bat for RCB throughout the campaign and also in the final. The winner of the Orange Cap in IPL 2024 finished as the third-highest run-getter this season. However, several players couldn't show such remarkable consistency.</p>
<p>In this article, CricTracker looks at five players who were successful in IPL 2024 but couldn't repeat their heroics this season.</p>
<h3>5. Jake Fraser-McGurk</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1745055654396_Jake-Fraser-McGurk.jpeg" alt="Jake-Fraser-McGurk" width="690" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Jake-Fraser-McGurk. (Photo source: X)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/jake-fraser-mcgurk/">Jake Fraser-McGurk</a></strong> became the talk of the town after lighting up IPL 2024 with some blistering hitting for the Delhi Capitals (DC). He went after the bowlers from the get-go and hit boundaries for fun. The opening batter amassed 330 runs from nine matches at a commendable average of 36.67 and a mind-boggling strike rate of 234.04.</p>
<p>DC re-signed him for INR 9 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction. The right-handed batter was expected to go from strength to strength this season. However, he looked terribly out of sorts and went on to lose his place in the side mid-way through the tournament. Fraser-McGurk only scored 55 runs in six matches at an average of 9.17 and a strike rate of 105.77.</p>
<div class="ct-read-more ct-box mceNonEditable" data-label-text="Read More" id="683c25f70b80dcf6dfcb9f40" data-fantasy-id="" data-msg="Read More: cricket-appeal/ipl-2025-players-who-deserved-a-chance-but-were-benched-all-season"></div>
<p></p>
<h3>4. Harshal Patel</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1746777400588_FotoJet---2025-05-09T132436.jpeg" alt="Harshal Patel" width="690" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Harshal Patel (Source: Getty Image)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/harshal-patel/">Harshal Patel</a> </strong>won the Purple Cap in IPL 2024 while playing for Punjab Kings. The right-arm seamer finished with a magnificent tally of 24 wickets from 14 matches at an average of 19.88. In the IPL 2025 mega auction, he was roped in by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 8 crore.</p>
<p>The 34-year-old played 13 matches in IPL 2025 and managed only 16 wickets at an average of 26.88. Eight of these wickets came in two games, showing that his renowned wicket-taking ability wasn't on display in the recently-concluded edition.</p>
<div class="ct-read-more ct-box mceNonEditable" data-label-text="Also Check" data-title="IPL 2025: 3 Players who were underutilized by Rajasthan Royals" data-url="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-appeal/ipl-2025-3-players-who-were-underutilized-by-rajasthan-royals" data-msg="Also Check: https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-appeal/ipl-2025-3-players-who-were-underutilized-by-rajasthan-royals"></div>
<p></p>
<h3>3. Andre Russell</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1744736817217_Andre-Russell.jpeg" alt="Andre-Russell" width="686" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Andre-Russell. (Photo source: X/IPL)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/andre-russell/"><strong>Andre Russell</strong></a><strong> </strong>contributed with both bat and ball in IPL 2024, helping Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) win the title after 10 years. The talismanic all-rounder scored 222 runs from nine innings in IPL 2024. The runs came at an average of 31.71 and a strike rate of 185. With the ball, Russell accounted for 19 wickets from 15 matches, averaging 15.53.</p>
<p>Russell was retained by KKR on expected lines. However, he failed to live up to his reputation as a match-winning cricketer. He had his least productive season with the bat since IPL 2020. The Jamaican cricketer scored 167 runs at an average of 18.56, and his strike rate dropped to 163.73. His campaign with the ball was worse as he finished with eight wickets from nine innings at an average of 27.13.</p>
<div class="ct-read-more ct-box mceNonEditable" data-label-text="Also Check" data-title="IPL 2025: 3 Players who were underutilised by KKR" data-url="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-appeal/ipl-2025-3-players-who-were-underutilised-by-kkr-3886" data-msg="Also Check: https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-appeal/ipl-2025-3-players-who-were-underutilised-by-kkr-3886"></div>
<p></p>
<h3>2. Rishabh Pant</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1743831357708_Rishabh-Pant.jpeg" alt="Rishabh Pant" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Rishabh Pant (Source: Surjeet Yadav/MB Media/Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/rishabh-pant/"><strong>Rishabh Pant</strong></a><strong> </strong>made a comeback to competitive cricket during IPL 2024 after being sidelined for 14 months following a horrific car accident. He led DC to a No. 6 finish on the points table, missing out on a playoffs berth on net run rate (NRR). The star wicketkeeper performed well with the bat, scoring 446 runs from 13 matches at an average of 40.55 and a strike rate of 155.40. Apart from IPL 2018, when he averaged 52.61, Pant had never finished an IPL season with an average of over 40 heading into this season.</p>
<p>Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) acquired the services of Pant for a record-shattering INR 27 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction. The Delhi cricketer was appointed as the captain of the side. However, he only managed 269 runs from 14 matches at an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133.17. His numbers would have looked even more worrisome had he not scored an exhilarating century in LSG's last game of the season against eventual champions RCB.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>1. Venkatesh Iyer</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1731595849114_Venkatesh-Iyer.jpeg" alt="Venkatesh Iyer" width="691" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Venkatesh Iyer. (Source - Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>KKR turned heads when they signed <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/venkatesh-iyer/">Venkatesh Iyer</a></strong> for a staggering INR 23.75 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction. This forced them to miss out on players like Mitchell Starc, Phil Salt, and Co. These players had played a massive role in KKR becoming champions in IPL 2024. However, Venkatesh, who scored fifties in Qualifier 1 and the final, was backed by the management.</p>
<p>Venkatesh played 15 matches in IPL 2024 and scored 370 runs at an average of 46.25 and a strike rate of 158.80. However, in IPL 2025, the Madhya Pradesh cricketer only managed 142 runs from 11 matches at a dismal average of 20.29, and the strike rate also dropped to 139.22. It was surprising to see that Venkatesh didn't get a single over in the tournament. He was eventually dropped for the last few KKR games this season.</p>
<div class="ct-read-more ct-box mceNonEditable" data-label-text="Also Check" data-title="I feel Venkatesh Iyer would have had a really great season had he played for us: RCB head coach Andy Flower" data-url="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/i-feel-venkatesh-iyer-would-have-had-a-really-great-season-had-he-played-for-us-rcb-head-coach-andy-flower" data-msg="Also Check: https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/i-feel-venkatesh-iyer-would-have-had-a-really-great-season-had-he-played-for-us-rcb-head-coach-andy-flower"></div>
<p></p>

It is hard to maintain consistency in a highly-competitive tournament like the Indian Premier League (IPL). While there were some fantastic performances in the 18th edition, others failed to make a ma

5 successful players of IPL 2024 who flopped in 2025

It is hard to maintain consistency in a highly-competitive tournament like the Indian Premier League. While there were some fantastic performances in the 18th edition, others failed to make a mark.

IPL 2025: 5 players who succeeded in 2024 but flopped this season

IPL 2025 flop players: Check out five cricketers who performed well in IPL 2024 but failed to deliver in IPL 2025, featuring stars who couldn’t perform like last season.