In a viral social media post, Iceland Cricket mocked underperforming stars of the IPL 2025 season by naming a parody team called the “Frauds and Scammers XI.”
Rishabh Pant, who was bought for a record INR 27 crore by Lucknow SuperGiants, was named captain and wicket keeper of the side. The move sparked wide fan reactions online as the post quickly spread across platforms.
Rishabh Pant, Venkatesh Iyer Among Costliest IPL 2025 Flops
Pant has had a forgettable season so far. In 11 matches, he has scored only 128 runs at an average of 12.80. His team, LSG, currently sits seventh on the table with five wins from 11 games. Expectations were high after his big-money signing, but he has failed to anchor innings or produce any match-winning knocks.
Venkatesh Iyer, another top buy at INR 23.75 crore, has struggled with both form and consistency. He has scored just 142 runs across 11 games with a strike rate of 139.22. He was appointed vice-captain for KKR this season, but his contributions have fallen short of expectations.
The mock team also includes Ishan Kishan, Glenn Maxwell, Rachin Ravindra and Mohammed Shami. These players have struggled to perform when it mattered most, making fans and analysts question their impact this season.
Iceland Cricket’s Viral XI Targets Big Names
The “Frauds and Scammers XI” features a total of 12 players. The lineup includes five from Chennai Super Kings and one each from Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, Lucknow SuperGiants and Delhi Capitals.
Here’s the full XI as posted by Iceland Cricket:
R Tripathi, R Ravindra, I Kishan, R Pant (c & wk), V Iyer, G Maxwell, L Livingstone, D Hooda, R Ashwin, M Pathirana, M Shami; No impact player: M Kumar.
Known for their satirical takes on global cricket, Iceland Cricket captioned their post, “On a rainy day in Reykjavík, we give you our IPL 2025 frauds and scammers team.” The blunt delivery, combined with accurate statistics, made it an instant hit among fans.
A Brutal Reminder Ahead of IPL 2025 Playoffs
While the post was humorous in tone, it highlighted a real trend this season. Several big names have underperformed, while less-hyped players have carried teams into playoff contention.
RCB, Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians are still in the race for the top four. Meanwhile, heavyweights like CSK and SRH have been knocked out.
The Iceland Cricket post shows that high prices don’t ensure great performance. The season’s final few matches provide these high-profile players few chances to turn things around. Although meant as a joke, the “Frauds and Scammers XI” has resonated with fans who have seen these players underperform all season.
