IPL 2025: 'Didn't Get The Recognition I Wanted'- Shreyas Iyer Makes Shocking Remark On KKR Stint

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Shreyas Iyer played a pivotal role in leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title in 2024, but he felt his contributions were not fully acknowledged. Despite guiding the team to success, KKR decided against retaining him for the 2025 season.

During the IPL 2025 mega auction, Punjab Kings secured his services for a staggering ₹26.75 crore, making him one of the highest-paid players in the tournament. Now set to lead PBKS, Iyer is eager to make his mark in the upcoming season.

Reflecting on his journey, Iyer expressed his feelings about the lack of recognition he received despite guiding KKR to victory. "The major focus was to win the IPL, and thankfully, I won it. I personally felt I didn't get the recognition I wanted to after winning the IPL but at the end of the day, as long as you have self-integrity and you keep doing the right things when no one is watching, that is more important and that is what I kept doing," he shared in an interview with TOI.

Elaborating further, he emphasized the importance of respect for his contributions on the field. "When I talk about recognition, it's about getting that respect. It was about the respect for whatever efforts I put on the field. I think sometimes it gets unnoticed but extremely satisfied with the efforts I put in because they weren't easy wickets to bat on," he added.

Iyer also reflected on his recent successes in international cricket, particularly in the Champions Trophy 2025, where he amassed 243 runs in five matches. His top score of 79 against New Zealand highlighted his ability to perform under pressure.

"Extremely satisfying. To be honest, it has been a journey, and I have learnt a lot in this phase of my life, where I got out of the contract after playing the 2023 ODI World Cup. I reassessed where I went wrong, what I should be doing, how well I need to focus on my fitness. I asked myself all these questions, prepared a routine, and started focusing on my training and the skills I added side by side," he explained.

The 29-year-old credited domestic cricket for helping him rebuild his confidence and fitness levels. "Once I got continuous matches in domestic cricket, I figured out how important fitness was for me, especially when I raised my concerns at the start of the year. Overall I am extremely happy with myself... the way I came out of this, the way I handled the situation and most importantly I believed in myself," he concluded.

As he gears up to lead Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, Iyer will be eager to prove his mettle once again, both as a leader and a match-winner.