DRS Nov 2: KKR reveal why Shreyas Iyer was released, Virat Kohli’s brain-fade & India match cancelled

The dust has been settled on the IPL 2025 retentions and we saw the commencement of the third Test between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium. India were ruling the roost for majority of the match before a calamity struck and the hosts lost three wickets in a matter of just 9 balls. Yashasvi Jaiswal played am ill-adviced stroke, Mohammed Siraj’s nightwatchman ploy didn’t work and Virat Kohli had a brain-fade moment. All in all, New Zealand went into the pavilion after the day’s play with the nose is ahead. India, trailing by 149 runs, will have a tall task to surpass the Kiwis’ score of 235 on a turning track. Apart from this, KKR CEO Venky Mysore reveal the reasons behind the release of Shreyas Iyer, the captain who won them IPL 2024. On that note, here are the six top headline-making stories from November 1.

Virat Kohli & his brain-fade moment

Virat Kohli continued his poor form this season after his own mistake cost him and India a big blow. He had a real shocker in a Test match against New Zealand. Kohli hit the ball towards mid-on and thought he could steal a quick single. But, oops! The fielder, Matt Henry, was lightning-fast. He picked up the ball and threw it straight at the stumps. Kohli dived, but it wasn’t enough. He was out! This was a rare moment where Kohli’s judgment let him down, and it cost India a valuable momentum. At the moment, Kohli has been struggling to find even a portion of his groove, something that is quite alarming. While he has not found his rhythm against the likes of Bangladesh and New Zealand, the biggest challenge still awaits in the form of Australia

India’s preparations for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia have taken an unexpected turn. The team has decided to cancel their planned intra-squad practice match against India A, opting instead for net sessions and center wicket practice at the WACA (Perth). This decision deviates from previous tours where India engaged in longer format practice matches. While India aim for a historic third consecutive series win in Australia, the lack of competitive match practice is what India not needed. This is especially after their lack of form against New Zealand, who have conquered a Test series win in India.

Why did KKR release Shreyas Iyer?

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made a surprising decision to not retain their 2024 IPL-winning captain, Shreyas Iyer. Despite his leadership and batting prowess, the two parties couldn’t agree on financial terms. KKR CEO Venky Mysore clarified that while Iyer was their top pick, the player’s desire to test his market value in the auction led to this outcome. This has led Iyer to enter the IPL 2025 mega auctions. Let’s see who will bag him. Maybe a DC return?

New PCB bait for Champions Trophy?

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan is looming, but India’s participation still remains unsure. The BCCI is awaiting government approval, while PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has assured smooth visa processing for Indian fans. He aims to attract a large majority of Indian crowd for the Lahore matches, where Team India is scheduled to play their all games. This tournament marks Pakistan’s return to hosting major ICC events after a 29-year hiatus, and it would be the first Indian tour to Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup.

Virat Kohli is not a great T20 player?

Virat Kohli’s retention by RCB for a whopping Rs 21 crore has sparked mixed reactions. While fans are ecstatic, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has a different take altogether. He questioned Kohli’s captaincy abilities and his impact as a T20 player. Manjrekar believes that Kohli, despite being the IPL’s all-time leading run-scorer, lacks the explosive nature and impact of a truly great T20 batter. He emphasized the importance of separating hero worship from cricketing logic, suggesting that Kohli’s legendary Test status doesn’t automatically translate to T20 greatness. Well, Manjrekar is known for his unfiltered opinions and this was one of those!

India vs New Zealand: Day 1

What a day at Wankhede! Talk about making statements – Washington Sundar, fresh off being dropped by SRH, ripped through the Kiwi lineup with 4 wickets. Guess who joined the party? Jadeja, grabbing a fifer, making the ball dance on this turning track. Daryl Mitchell showed CSK what they could miss, fighting through Mumbai’s heat for a gutsy 82. Young chipped in with 71, but New Zealand could only manage 258.The bigger story? Rohit Sharma’s nightmare continued. Another failure – just 18 runs before edging one to slips. However, India lost three wickets at the fag end of the day’s play, which could be a thorn for the hosts on Day 2. Catch all Day 2 updates and stories at Insidesport.