'I wasn't fully in the mix' : Shreyas Iyer breaks silence on his time with KKR

Shreyas Iyer, fresh off leading Kolkata to an IPL title in 2024, surprisingly wasn't retained and was acquired by Punjab Kings for a hefty sum. He guided Punjab to the IPL final in 2025, crediting their support for his success. Despite a recent T20 Asia Cup snub, Iyer remains focused, now captaining India A.

Shreyas Iyer (X-Kolkata Knight Riders)

Shreyas Iyer has firmly established himself as one of Indian cricket’s brightest stars. Recently, he played a pivotal role in India’s triumph at the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai, finishing as the team’s highest run-scorer. His leadership skills have also been widely praised. In 2024, he captained Kolkata Knight Riders to their first IPL title in ten years. Despite leading KKR to their first IPL title in a decade and proving himself as a strong captain, the franchise chose not to retain him ahead of the 2025 auction. This decision surprised many, as Iyer had delivered both as a leader and a player, and had also previously led Delhi Capitals to their first IPL final in 2020.

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At the 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, Punjab Kings bought Iyer for ₹26.75 crore, making him the second-highest paid player in IPL history after Rishabh Pant. Punjab co-owner Preity Zinta later praised Iyer’s leadership and experience, saying they were lucky to have him and had planned their auction strategy around him.

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The support from the Punjab Kings gave Iyer confidence. With coach Ricky Ponting, he led the team to the IPL final in 2025. Speaking to GQ India, he said, “I offer a lot as a captain and player. Punjab gave me all the support I needed from coaches, management, and players. I was able to contribute in meetings and make decisions on and off the field.” About his time at Kolkata, Iyer said, “I was part of the conversation, but I wasn’t fully in the mix. I’ve had to work my way up to get to this position.” Recently, he was left out of India’s T20 Asia Cup squad, which surprised many fans. Weeks later, he was named captain of India A for two multi-day matches against Australia A. He told GQ India, “I can only control the controllable. I will keep working on my skills, and when the opportunity comes, I’ll take it.”

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