Shreyas Iyer reveals everything about getting kicked out of KKR

Indian Premier League (IPL) winning captain Shreyas Iyer has broken his silence on his exit from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after a prolific season in 2024. Shreyas Iyer said there was a lack of communication from the franchise regarding his retention, which led to uncertainty about his future with the team.

The 30-year-old cricketer grabbed attention in the IPL 2025 mega auction because of his batting skills and leadership experience. He became one of the most expensive acquisitions, with Punjab Kings securing him for Rs 26.75 crore. Iyer was recently appointed as the captain of PBKS for the upcoming IPL 2025 season.

Shreyas Iyer led the Kolkata Knight Riders to their IPL 2024 title

Shreyas Iyer led Kolkata Knight Riders to their IPL 2024 title. However, the right-handed batsman was not retained by the franchise and was placed in the auction. KKR’s decision to part ways with Iyer, especially after he ended the team’s 10-year title drought, surprised fans and disappointed the player.

Many expected the batsman to be retained, but KKR chose a different path when it came time for retentions. They kept players like Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Rinku Singh among others. KKR tried to bring back Iyer but could not afford beyond Rs 10 crore due to their limited budget.

There was a scale and no concrete effort to have a retention talk – Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer said he was disappointed with Kolkata Knight Riders’ lack of communication regarding his retention. He recalled that they had a conversation about retention right after the win, but there was no “concrete effort” from KKR in terms of retention.

“I certainly had a great time winning the championship at KKR. The fan following was outstanding; they electrified the stadium and I loved every moment I spent there. So obviously we had a conversation (about retention) right after the IPL championship,” Indian Express said.

“But for a few months, there was a standoff and there was no concrete effort to have a retention talk. I was perplexed by what was going on. So, because of a lack of communication, we got to a situation where we separate each other. And that’s the long and short of it,” Iyer added.

What is written is supposed to happen – Shreyas Iyer

With no update on his future and only knowing the situation a week before the retention date, Shreyas said he decided to enter the IPL 2025 mega auction, accepting whatever happens.

“Yes, obviously disappointed, because when you don’t have a certain line of communication and you know things a week before the retention date, obviously something is missing. So, I had to get a call. What is written is supposed to happen,” he added.

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