'Didn't work out': Ex-KKR coach drops bombshell on Iyer's exit after title win

Former KKR manager Chandrakant Pandit has admitted that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made a costly telephone by letting spell of Shreyas Iyer aft their IPL 2024 title-winning season, saying, "Unfortunately, we missed him."Pandit, who was KKR’s caput manager erstwhile the franchise released Iyer, reflected connected the determination aft the batter’s beardown tally with Punjab Kings. Since joining Punjab for Rs 26.75 crore, Iyer led the squad to the IPL 2025 final, and PBKS person besides remained unbeaten successful their archetypal six matches of the IPL 2026 season."Unfortunately, we missed him," Pandit told RevSportz connected Iyer, who joined PBKS for Rs 26.75 crore successful the mega auction earlier IPL 2025."Shreyas is simply a fantastic subordinate who won the trophy for KKR arsenic captain, and I respect the mode helium handled the team. But sometimes, definite circumstances and broader strategies unit you to fto specified players go. Obviously, arsenic a manager astatine KKR, I felt atrocious astir that. It wasn't a purposeful omission, but things simply didn't enactment retired for us. It isn't lone Shreyas; I consciousness the aforesaid astir Phil Salt and others."The seasoned coach, on with Shreyas and mentor Gautam Gambhir, was portion of the IPL 2024 title-winning set-up for KKR.

Pandit besides spoke astir Iyer’s lack from India’s T20I side. He said beardown contention for places often leads to specified decisions."Shreyas has been portion of the Indian squad and has delivered beardown performances. Unfortunately, helium was near out, but situations similar this are not uncommon. When gathering a team, determination is ever the situation of balancing acquisition with the request to groom caller talent. With the extent of endowment available, it becomes hard to supply opportunities to each deserving player.""There is ever competition, and often, arsenic susceptible replacements are available. That said, Shreyas has been starring Punjab impressively, and his batting reflects noticeable maturity. He plays with a fearless mindset, focusing little connected the concern and much connected winning the game, which is evident successful the mode helium constructs his innings," the 64-year-old added.Iyer has been 1 of the much accordant batters successful the past 2 IPL seasons. In 5 innings this year, helium has scored 208 runs astatine an mean of 52 and a onslaught complaint of 182.45.