Biggest IPL 2025 Flops: 5 Star Players Who Failed to Deliver

The IPL 2025 season has been a rollercoaster of thrilling performances and unexpected letdowns. While some players have shined, a few big names have disappointed fans with their underwhelming performances. In this blog, we’ll break down the top five flops of IPL 2025—players who failed to justify their massive reputations and price tags.

1. Glenn Maxwell – The Out-of-Form Power Hitter

Glenn Maxwell’s struggles deepened this season, cementing his status as one of IPL 2025’s biggest letdowns. The explosive Australian managed a paltry 48 runs across six innings, striking at an embarrassing 97.95 before injury ended his campaign prematurely.

“Maxwell’s weakness against spin was brutally exposed – he fell five times to slow bowlers while scraping just 30 runs off 29 deliveries.”

His dismal showing continued a horror run from IPL 2024, where he averaged just 5.77 for RCB. The franchise change to Delhi Capitals provided no revival, raising serious questions about his T20 future.

Alarming Red Flags:

• Repeated failures against spin bowling
• Strike rate below 100 for consecutive seasons
• Four single-digit scores in six innings

2. Rishabh Pant – The Costly Misfire

Lucknow Super Giants broke the bank for Rishabh Pant at INR 27 crore, only to see their marquee signing deliver the worst strike rate (99.22) among all 100+ run scorers. The skipper’s 128 runs in 11 matches crippled LSG’s middle order throughout the season.

Pullquote: “Pant’s inability to accelerate turned potential winning positions into losing totals, derailing LSG’s playoff hopes.”

What Went Wrong?

• Six dismissals in single digits
• Just one meaningful contribution (63 off 49 balls)
• Created constant pressure on teammates

3. Mohammed Shami – The Shadow of His Former Self

The once-lethal Mohammed Shami became a liability for Sunrisers Hyderabad, a far cry from his 106-wicket dominance between 2019-2023. His IPL 2025 numbers painted a grim picture of decline.

Shocking Decline:

• Barely 6 scalps in 9 appearances
• Conceding 11.23 runs per over
• Benched during crucial matches

Shami’s loss of pace and precision transformed him from strike bowler to weak link in SRH’s attack.

4. Jake Fraser-McGurk – The Failed Gamble

Touted as Australia’s next big thing, Jake Fraser-McGurk’s much-hyped debut season yielded just 89 runs in 7 innings, with his highest score (28) exposing his inability to build innings.

Reality Check:

• Frequent early dismissals
• Struggled against short-pitched bowling
• Never looked comfortable at the crease

5. Rachin Ravindra – The Sophomore Slump

Following his breakout 2024 season, Rachin Ravindra’s IPL 2025 returns (112 runs, 3 wickets in 10 games) confirmed suspicions of being a one-season wonder.

Critical Flaws:

• Reckless shot selection under pressure
• Ineffectual with both bat and ball
• Failed to replicate previous year’s impact

Final Verdict

IPL 2025 brutally exposed these five stars, proving that past glory guarantees nothing in cricket’s most demanding league. Their collective failures serve as a stark reminder that reputation must be backed by performance.

Which player’s downfall surprised you most? Share your thoughts below!

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