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

Two months after bagging a hefty deal, Shreyas Iyer expressed his disappointment on how his association with KKR came to an end.  

The 30-year-old claimed that there was a lack of communication from the franchise’s part about the retention, and as a result, both parties failed to reach an agreement.

“Certainly, I had a fantastic time winning the championship at KKR. The fan following was outstanding; they were electrifying in the stadium, and I loved every moment I spent there. So obviously, we had a conversation (about retention) straight after the IPL championship. But for a few months, there was a layover and no concrete effort in having a retention talk. I was perplexed about what was happening. So, because of a lack of communication, we came to a situation where we parted ways mutually. And that’s the long and short of it," Iyer was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

“Yes, obviously disappointed, because when you don’t have a certain line of communication and if you get to know things one week prior to the retention date, then obviously something is lacking over there. So, I had to take a call. Whatever is written is supposed to happen," he added.

Shreyas Iyer admitted that he enjoyed his time at KKR and also showered rich praise on the team owner, Shah Rukh Khan.

“I would just like to say that the time I spent over there (KKR) with Shah Rukh Sir, the family, and all of them was phenomenal. And obviously, winning the championship was probably an integral part of my life," Iyer stated.

“We all know Shah Rukh sir; he’s a heartthrob, and people go bonkers whenever they look at him. He’s got this certain zest when he walks into the room, that energy, that vibration. And he’s a dominant figure, obviously. I got to learn a lot from him. He is very kind and generous in nature. And probably that’s what makes him pretty unique as an individual. I love his confidence level and self-belief about the team the most. It was surreal," he remarked.