Shreyas Iyer may have been dismissed without scoring against his previous team, the Kolkata Knight Riders, but he ultimately emerged victorious in the tense low-scoring match in New Chandigarh on Tuesday, as the Punjab Kings achieved a remarkable 16-run victory, propelling them back into the top four of the points table. Following the game, he met with KKR CEO Venky Mysore for the first time since their disagreement regarding retention for the current season last October.

Shreyas had led Kolkata to a championship victory last year, marking their first IPL title in over a decade, despite the team finishing seventh in both 2022 and 2023. However, when the management released their final retention list ahead of the mega auction last October, they chose not to retain him.

Mysore later disclosed that although Shreyas was their top choice for retention, a lack of mutual agreement resulted in their separation. The Indian cricketer was subsequently acquired by the Punjab Kings for INR 26.75 crore during the auction.

"The intricacies of retention involve numerous factors and influences. A key aspect that many may overlook is that retention requires mutual consent. It is not solely the franchise's prerogative; the player must also weigh various considerations and agree," Mysore explained in an interview with Rev Sports. "At times, this agreement fails to materialize due to different reasons, such as financial considerations or a desire to assess one's market value, which ultimately impacts the decision. Nevertheless, he was our top priority."

Months later, in an interview with the Indian Express, Shreyas expressed that while KKR did initiate discussions about retention after the previous season, he felt "perplexed" by their lack of follow-up, which compelled him to enter the auction.

"I truly enjoyed my time winning the championship with KKR. The fan support was incredible, the atmosphere in the stadium was electrifying, and I cherished every moment spent there. Naturally, we had a conversation immediately after the IPL," he stated.

Reunion in Chandigarh

Three months since Shreyas' comment, Mysore caught up with the Punjab captain after a nail-biting contest in Chandigarh. Visuals showed the two having a quick chat after the game, with Sunil Narine present.

Punjab won the game as they beat Kolkata by 16 runs at home, despite being folded for just 111 runs in 15.3 overs. This was the lowest total ever defended by an IPL team in history.

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