Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer left KKR before IPL 2025 “because of a lack of communication”

Shreyas Iyer was with KKR from 2022 to 2024. In his first year, he couldn’t impress with his captaincy but did well with the bat. But, after missing the 2023 season due to injury, he led them to a third IPL trophy.

How often has it happened that a captain guides you to a trophy and is removed straight after? That’s exactly what occurred last year when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) didn’t retain Shreyas Iyer before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The franchise hadn’t won the IPL trophy since 2014, and after a decade, the batter from Mumbai gave them glory. In reply, he was sent to the auction by KKR.

Shreyas Iyer was perplexed by KKR’s non-retention

Ruthless, that’s how you can describe the move. Shreyas Iyer admits that he was perplexed by the decision. That he wasn’t communicated with even until the retention deadline was just a week away. Of course, since he’s moved on. He was bagged by the Punjab Kings for a then record-breaking Rs 26.75 crore and will lead them in the IPL 2025 season.

Shreyas Iyer admitted that he enjoyed his time at KKR. His relationship with co-owner Shah Rukh Khan and all those parts of the management was great. However, the lack of communication was baffling. He claimed that KKR made no effort to have retention talks with him.

“Certainly, I had a fantastic time winning the championship at KKR. The fan following was outstanding, they were electrifying in the stadium and I loved every moment I spent there. So obviously, we had a conversation straight after the IPL championship. But for a few months, there was a layover and no concrete effort in having a retention talk. I was perplexed about what’s happening. So, because of a lack of communication, we came to a situation where we parted ways, mutually. And that’s the long and short of it,” Shreyas Iyer said, speaking at Idea Exchange.

KKR didn’t want IPL winning captain anymore

Naturally, the batter assumed that KKR didn’t want him there. Had his services been needed, they would have talked with him. But nothing of that sort happened until a week before the IPL 2025 auction. So, Shreyas Iyer took a call. And it seems to have worked fine in favour.

Yes, obviously disappointed, because when you don’t have a certain line of communication and if you get to know things one week prior to the retention date, then obviously something is lacking over there. So I had to take a call. Whatever is written is supposed to happen. But other than that, I would just like to say that the time I spent over there with Shah Rukh Sir, the family, all of them, was phenomenal. And obviously, winning the championship was probably an integral part of my life.