Under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinched their third IPL title in the 2024 season. However, the middle-order batter was not retained by the franchise, much to the shock of the fans, experts and former cricketers alike.

After parting ways with KKR, Shreyas entered the mega auction with a base price of INR 2 crore. He was sold to the Punjab Kings (PBKS) for INR 26.75 crore, making him the second-most expensive player in IPL auction history.

Iyer repaid the faith of the PBKS management, guiding the team to the final of 2025 edition while the side has also remained undefeated in their first six games of IPL 2026.

Speaking to RevSportz, former KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit admitted that while Shreyas Iyer was a fantastic leader, “certain circumstances and broader strategies” necessitated his departure.

“Unfortunately, we missed him. Shreyas is a wonderful player who won the trophy for KKR as captain and I admire the way he handled the team. But sometimes, certain circumstances and broader strategies force you to let such players go," Pandit said.

He also mentioned similar feelings about losing other key members of the 2024 championship squad, specifically mentioning Phil Salt.

“Obviously, as a coach at KKR, I felt bad about that. It wasn’t a purposeful omission, but things did not work out for us. It isn’t only Shreyas; I feel the same about Phil Salt and others," Pandit added.

Chandrakant Pandit noted that while it is unfortunate, such exclusions are common due to the "depth of talent" and the need to "groom new talent".

“Shreyas has been part of the Indian team and has delivered strong performances. Unfortunately, he was left out, but situations like this aren’t uncommon," Pandit stated.

“When building a team, there is always the challenge of balancing experience with the need to groom new talent. With the depth of talent available, it becomes difficult to provide opportunities to every deserving player," he remarked.