Shreyas Iyer drops bombshell on KKR departure, says 'Lack of Communication' as reason

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Former KKR captain Shreyas Iyer has dropped a massive hint about him leaving the franchise ahead of IPL 2025.

Shreyas Iyer joined the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2022 and played the first season. However, a back injury sidelined him for the entire 2023 IPL season. Upon his return in 2024, Iyer scripted a remarkable comeback by leading KKR to their third IPL title, ending a 10-year trophy drought for the franchise.

Yet, in an unexpected turn of events, KKR chose not to retain their championship-winning captain ahead of the 2025 IPL season. Instances of captains being let go immediately after securing a title are rare, making KKR's decision even more surprising.

The decision to part ways wasn't just shocking for fans but also for Iyer himself, who admitted to being confused by the franchise's approach.

"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," Iyer said to The Indian Express.

"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," he added.

Iyer also revealed that there was no communication from KKR about a possible retention even seven days before the IPL 2025 auction.

Left with little clarity, Iyer decided to move on. The Punjab Kings swooped in during the auction, securing him for a record-breaking Rs 26.75 crore, making him the second-most expensive player in IPL history. While disappointed by the abrupt ending, Iyer remains thankful for his KKR journey.

"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," Iyer concluded.