Shreyas Iyer may have guided the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL championship in 2024, yet the franchise chose not to retain the right-handed batsman before the mega auction. Recently, Iyer expressed his disappointment regarding a "lack of communication" with the management before the retention deadline, indicating that he had anticipated being retained by the three-time IPL winners. His confusion regarding the outcome was evident.

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has since disputed Iyer's claims, asserting that there were indeed discussions between Iyer and KKR, but ultimately, both parties could not reach a consensus.

Chopra further elaborated, stating that he could verify the existence of conversations between Shreyas Iyer and KKR, emphasizing that the situation ultimately stemmed from their inability to agree.

"One begins to reflect on KKR's history. Regardless of personal opinions about franchises, KKR has consistently aimed to preserve their core team. Players like Andre Russell and Sunil Narine have remained integral to KKR. The franchise even acquired Venkatesh Iyer in the auction when they could not retain him. This organization values relationships," Aakash Chopra remarked on his YouTube channel.

"Shreyas Iyer served as the captain and should have been included in the initial plans. He has mentioned in an interview that KKR did not communicate with him. I can now confirm that discussions took place between KKR and Shreyas Iyer. They engaged in an extensive conversation, but no agreement was reached, which is a separate matter," he added.

'Karma is real'

Aakash Chopra has claimed that the 30-year-old Shreyas expressed certain concerns during the retention discussions with KKR.

"I will not elaborate further. It is noteworthy that Shreyas had some reservations, and the events that unfolded are quite intriguing. At times, one might reflect, 'karma is indeed a factor; one can never be certain,'" he remarked.

"I can affirm that discussions occurred. However, Shreyas maintains that no such discussions took place, indicating a discrepancy. I can verify that talks were held. I also have my sources," Aakash Chopra continued.

Previously, Shreyas Iyer, who is set to captain Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, mentioned that he thoroughly enjoyed his experience in Kolkata. Nevertheless, he felt "perplexed" when the franchise chose not to retain him.

In an interview with the Indian Express at Idea Exchange, he stated, "I certainly had a wonderful time celebrating the championship with KKR. The fan support was remarkable, and the atmosphere in the stadium was electrifying; I cherished every moment spent there. Naturally, we had a conversation immediately following the IPL championship."

"However, there was a prolonged period without any substantial efforts to engage in retention discussions. I found myself perplexed about the situation. Due to a lack of communication, we reached a point where we mutually decided to part ways. That summarizes the situation," he added.

During the IPL mega auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Shreyas emerged as the second-most expensive player in the history of the lucrative league, being acquired for INR 26.75 crore.

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