3 reasons why KKR releasing Shreyas Iyer ahead of IPL 2025 Auction is the wrong move
Shreyas Iyer, who captained the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2024, did not find a place in the retentions made by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.
While there were several reports about KKR letting go of Iyer doing the rounds, releasing a captain who won you the title last year still comes as a surprising move nonetheless.
Kolkata had failed to win a title since their triumphs in 2012 and 2014 and it took them a decade to regain glory under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer. Never has a player who captained an IPL team to a trophy been released the very next season, but Iyer, on the wrong side, has now achieved this feat.
The defending champions have made some solid retentions with the likes of Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh among others alright. However, letting go of Iyer, for whatever the reasons may have been, seems to be a move they did not get right, and here is why.
3 reasons why KKR releasing Shreyas Iyer ahead of IPL 2025 Auction is the wrong move
#3 Understanding of the system and team culture
Shreyas Iyer joined the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022 when he was brought by the franchise during the mega auctions. Iyer performed decently with the bat that season, scoring 401 runs from 14 games.
It is worth noting here that he missed the 2023 season due to a back injury and returned to lead the franchise in IPL 2024. That said, it took just two seasons for him to lead a new team to the title.
Players often take time, or even a few seasons, to settle into a new franchise, while Shreyas Iyer, in a short span of time, not only settled in well but also proved himself as a successful leader. This clearly reflects his ability to understand the system and culture of a team quickly, which KKR may miss going forward.
#2 Lack of Indian captaincy options and lesser purse
The most successful captains in IPL history - MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir, have all been Indians. Having an Indian captain at the helm is always crucial in this league, which has been proven historically as well.
Going into the IPL 2025 auction, the available Indian captaincy options are too few, and with many teams in need of captains, it might be difficult for Kolkata to bring in an Indian captain. As they have retained six players, their remaining purse amount might also make it difficult for them to compete with other teams.
As a result, they might have to settle for an overseas captain, which again, is not the most preferred choice in the IPL.
#1 Letting go of a captain who won them the trophy in 2024
It took ten long years for the Kolkata Knight Riders to lay their hands once again on the IPL trophy. Over the last few seasons, the Kolkata franchise had become slightly inconsistent and it was Shreyas Iyer, who led them to the title last year as they had a phenomenal run throughout the tournament.
Iyer proved his ability to lead a side successfully, hardly making any wrong decisions throughout the season. Leadership is key, especially in a high-stakes tournament such as the IPL, and with big names in the side such as Narine, Russell, and Mitchell Starc, Iyer managed different personalities well, using the resources in the best possible manner and bringing the best out of the team as a unit.
Letting go of a captain who won them the trophy in 2024 and made them the defending champions could prove to be a costly move for the Knight Riders.