KKR Explains Decision to Release Captain Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer, who led the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title, was not retained for IPL 2025. Despite the franchise's significant investment in him since 2022, their partnership ended after just three seasons.

KKR CEO Venky Mysore discussed the reasoning behind this decision in an interview with Boria Majumdar. “Shreyas was our top choice on the retention list, but it involves mutual agreement. The player's commitment to the franchise is crucial,” he stated.

He emphasized that when the team brought Iyer on board, the intention was for him to take on the captaincy. Although Iyer missed IPL 2023 due to injury, KKR assured him he would regain the captaincy upon his return. Mysore acknowledged that if a player is exploring their market value, it may be best to allow them to move on. “I have a good relationship with him, but players need the freedom to make their own choices,” he added.

Mysore refrained from labeling Iyer's departure as a disappointment, noting that sometimes things simply do not align. “Despite our efforts, not everything works out as planned. It’s important to accept this and move forward,” he remarked.

He also mentioned that retaining Sunil Narine and Andre Russell was an obvious choice due to their long-standing contributions to the team and their success.