Ex-KKR coach opens up on letting go of Shreyas Iyer following 2024 IPL title triumph: 'It wasn't purposeful'

Former Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Chandrakant Pandit reflected on the franchise’s decision to release Shreyas Iyer despite his successful leadership in guiding KKR to their third IPL title in 2024.

Shreyas Iyer has since flourished with Punjab Kings, becoming one of the league’s most consistent skippers. Image: Reuters

Pavitra.Shome|Apr 25, 2026, 00:43:29 IST

Former Kolkata Knight Riders' head coach Chandrakant Pandit has opened up on the franchise letting go of then-skipper Shreyas Iyer. Under Pandit's guidance and Iyer's leadership, KKR had won their third IPL in 2024.

But what shocked everyone was that the franchise let go of Shreyas Iyer following that season. KKR released him during the player retention period and had retained six players — Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, and Ramandeep Singh.

Fans were left outraged over the decision, and they haven't been performing at their best since then. The former KKR head coach has spoken out about the controversial decision that severely affected the franchise.

Ex-KKR coach opens up about letting Iyer go

Chandrakant Pandit said he admired Shreyas Iyer and his leadership during his time with KKR, but also acknowledged the difficulty of balancing admiration for players with the harsh reality of team management. The veteran domestic coach further emphasised that Iyer's release wasn't intentional or personal, and felt bad about it.

Iyer flourishes as skipper with Punjab Kings

After being released by KKR, the Punjab Kings secured Shreyas Iyer for a staggering INR 26.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, becoming the second-most expensive player in IPL history at the time. Under Ricky Ponting's guidance, Iyer emerged as one of the most consistent skippers and led the Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final.

Punjab Kings continue their consistent performance in IPL 2026, with the Shreyas Iyer-led side remaining unbeaten this season so far.

PBKS will be in action against the Delhi Capitals on Saturday, April 25, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

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