For every success story, there are many tales of failure. In this year’s IPL, there has been no dearth of players who have missed their mark.
However, even here there is a hierarchy. There were a number of players still finding their feet or new to the tournament who failed to impress. You can’t pick too many faults in that.
However, there are some who, despite their reputation, experience and hefty salary, performed poorly. Below we take a look at the biggest flops of IPL 2025.
Venkatesh Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Innings: 7, Runs: 142, 50s: 1
It was an unmitigated disaster for the left-handed batter. Bought back by the franchise for an exorbitant sum of $2.8 million, and also discussed as a possible captain following the departure of the title winning Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh fell flat with the bat and looks set to be shipped out.
More than anything, Kolkata’s decision to let a title winning captain go, while splurging on a decent at best T20 cricketer is what rankles the most. The pressure of the price tag probably got to him.
Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants)
Innings: 13, Runs: 269, Avg: 24.45, SR: 133.16, 100s: 1, 50s: 1
Pant scored a century in the last match of the season for Lucknow, with very little to gain. But even with that ton, Pant failed spectacularly in his first season as captain of the Super Giants and the most expensive player in IPL history – with a salary of $3.2m.
Granted, Lucknow lost almost their entire frontline bowling attack to injury. But they had a few overseas players in great form with the bat – namely Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram. All they needed was Pant to play a few useful knocks here and there. But the wicketkeeper captain failed on all counts. His batting is looking ungainly and he just does not look the part in T20 cricket.
Mohammad Shami (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
M: 9, Wkts: 6, Econ: 11.23
The India pace veteran is trying to make a strong comeback from long-term leg injuries but he has just not been the same since the 2023 ODI World Cup. He has suffered numerous setbacks on his return from injury and in the IPL struggled to pick wickets or restrict runs – something many of his contemporaries did throughout on wickets conducive to bowlers.
Shami should consider himself lucky if he continues to get picked in top-level competitions.
Ravichandran Ashwin (Chennai Super Kings)
M: 9, Wkts: 7, Econ: 9.12
For some reason, Chennai management thought Ashwin was worth over a million dollars during the auction. Actually, it does not come as a surprise as they also thought that Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda and Vijay Shankar are a good T20 middle order.
Ashwin has lost his zip, already replaced by Washington Sundar at the national level. Predominant finger spinners have almost no space in the IPL, and that too those at the end of their careers. Chennai quickly moved on from him.
Glenn Maxwell (Punjab Kings)
M: 7, Runs: 48, Avg: 8.00
The Aussie is a proven performer at the international level, especially during major tournaments, but has missed his mark for two straight seasons in IPL. Maxwell was disastrously poor, even in a winning side like Punjab filled with in-form batters.
Not sure how many franchises will pick him in future. But then again, there is a T20 World Cup early next year. He might shine there and all could be forgotten.
Jake Fraser-McGurk (Delhi Capitals)
Innings: 6, Runs: 55, Avg: 9.16
There was a fear that the young Aussie batter’s technique could soon be unraveled as he does not have an all-round game and looks susceptible on pitches with any sort of help.
Unfortunately for Fraser-McGurk, teams had already done their homework on his technique and the pitches were more than responsive. After six failures, the 23-year-old was benched. He will now have to go back to the drawing board to show the franchise, and possibly the Australian selectors, that he is not a one trick pony.
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Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
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Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
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Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
Final: UAE beat Qatar by nine wickets
Third-place play-off: Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by five runs
Table
1 UAE 5 5 0 10
2 Qatar 5 4 1 8
3 Saudi 5 3 2 6
4 Kuwait 5 2 3 4
5 Bahrain 5 1 4 2
6 Maldives 5 0 5 0
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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
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- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
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What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
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Hales' batting career
Tests 11; Runs 573; 100s 0; 50s 5; Avg 27.38; Best 94
ODIs 58; Runs 1,957; 100s 5; 50s 11; Avg 36.24; Best 171
T20s 52; Runs 1,456; 100s 1; 50s 7; Avg 31.65; Best 116 not out
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
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A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
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National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
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Hamilton profile
Age 32
Country United Kingdom
Grands Prix entered 198
Pole positions 67
Wins 57
Podiums 110
Points 2,423
World Championships 3
COMPANY PROFILE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
