The Iceland Cricket Board, known for its humorous and bold takes, has stirred controversy once again—this time by naming an unofficial “IPL 2025 frauds and scammers team.” Based on underwhelming performances from this year’s IPL, the list features top names like Rishabh Pant, Venkatesh Iyer, R Ashwin, and Glenn Maxwell.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Iceland Cricket listed 11 players and one impact substitute, all of whom failed to impress in IPL 2025. The team was mockingly led by Rishabh Pant as captain and wicketkeeper.
Full List of the ‘Frauds and Scammers XI’
The post included:
- Openers: Rahul Tripathi, Rachin Ravindra
- Top-Order: Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant (c & wk)
- Middle-Order: Venkatesh Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Liam Livingstone
- Finisher: Deepak Hooda
- Bowlers: R Ashwin, Matheesha Pathirana, Mohammed Shami
- Impact Player: Mukesh Kumar
Their caption read:
“On a rain day in Reykjavík, we give you our IPL 2025 frauds and scammers team.”
Pant, Iyer Struggle to Justify Heavy Price Tags
This post especially highlighted the poor run of Pant and Iyer, two of the most expensive buys in IPL history—Pant for INR 27 crore and Iyer for INR 23.75 crore. Both players had disappointing seasons, with Pant scoring just 128 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate below 100, and Iyer scoring 142 runs at a slightly better 139.22 SR.
Neither Delhi Capitals nor Kolkata Knight Riders have secured a playoff spot yet, with both teams having 5 wins in 11 games. KKR, however, are a spot higher on the table due to a washout result against Punjab Kings.
Social Media Divided Over Harsh Criticism
While some fans found Iceland Cricket’s post amusing, others called it disrespectful and unnecessary. Given the pressure and expectations these athletes carry, many believe such trolling undermines their efforts.
As IPL 2025 nears its end, the spotlight will remain on whether these players can bounce back in their remaining games and silence their critics.