Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Chandrakant Pandit has addressed the franchise’s controversial decision to release Shreyas Iyer after the IPL 2024 season, admitting that the move did not work in the team’s favour. Speaking in an interview with RevSportz, Pandit reflected on the decision that saw the title-winning captain move to Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore.

Pandit acknowledged that KKR “missed” Shreyas Iyer after letting him go, especially given his role in leading the team to the IPL 2024 championship. He said Iyer was a key figure in the squad and praised his leadership qualities and batting contributions. However, he also noted that team strategies and broader planning sometimes force franchises to make difficult calls that do not always yield positive results.

The former coach explained that the decision was not made with any intention of overlooking the player. He said that while he personally felt disappointed about the outcome, multiple factors influenced the auction strategy. Pandit also mentioned that similar feelings applied to other players, including Phil Salt, suggesting that squad restructuring decisions often come with unavoidable trade-offs.

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Since joining Punjab Kings, Shreyas Iyer has continued to deliver strong performances. He led the franchise to the IPL 2025 final and has guided them to an unbeaten run in the early matches of the 2026 season. His individual form has also remained impressive, with consistent contributions in the middle order and a strong strike rate highlighting his aggressive approach.

In the ongoing IPL 2026 season, Iyer has scored 208 runs in five innings at an average of 52 and a strike rate of 182.45, underlining his growing influence as a captain and batter. Pandit said such performances strengthen the case for his return to India’s T20I setup, noting that intense competition in national selection often leaves deserving players out despite strong domestic and IPL records.

Pandit concluded by saying that selection decisions are always difficult and lie with the national committee, urging balanced judgment rather than criticism. He added that Iyer’s current form shows maturity and determination, suggesting that the Punjab Kings skipper is focused on earning a comeback to the Indian team through consistent performances.

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