There were speculations regarding the Kolkata Knight Riders' intention to retain Shreyas Iyer after the Indian cricketer successfully led the team to its first IPL title in a decade during the 2024 season. However, he faced a similar outcome to Eoin Morgan in 2021, as KKR opted to release him prior to the mega auction held last November. In his first comments regarding his departure, Iyer, who was acquired by Punjab Kings for INR 26.75 crore at the auction in Jeddah, attributed the situation to a "lack of communication."

Since reaching the finals under Morgan in 2021, KKR has finished in seventh place in both subsequent seasons. Iyer was unable to participate in the 2023 IPL due to a back injury. Nevertheless, upon his return to the franchise the following year, he, alongside newly appointed mentor Gautam Gambhir, led the team to its third title in history.

In an interview with Idea Exchange, Iyer revealed that he had anticipated being retained by KKR, particularly after discussions about retention took place immediately following the season's conclusion. However, he felt "perplexed" by the absence of further communication from KKR, which ultimately influenced his decision to part ways.

"I certainly had a wonderful experience winning the championship with KKR. The fan support was remarkable, and the atmosphere in the stadium was electrifying; I cherished every moment spent there. We had a conversation right after the IPL championship, but for several months, there was a gap with no substantial effort regarding retention discussions. I was perplexed about the situation. Consequently, due to a lack of communication, we reached a point where we mutually decided to part ways. That sums it up," he stated.

Iyer also conveyed his disappointment regarding the lack of communication from KKR concerning retention until the final week before the deadline.

The individual expressed clear disappointment, noting that the absence of a reliable communication channel, coupled with receiving information only one week before the retention date, indicates a significant deficiency in the process. Consequently, a decision had to be made. He further stated that the actions outlined are expected to be executed.

Iyer opens up on his record bid

For a fleeting moment, the Mumbai batsman held the record for the most expensive player in IPL history when Punjab Kings secured his services for INR 26.75 crore, only to be surpassed by Rishabh Pant, who signed a contract worth INR 27 crore with Lucknow Super Giants.

"During the auction, we were in Hyderabad, observing from our rooms, and I anticipated a substantial bid. However, I never imagined that I would reach such a high point or that there would be intense competition between two teams for my acquisition. Overall, I was elated. At one point, I closed the door, went into the washroom, and thought to myself, I don’t want to hear what’s going on," he remarked.

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