Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) coach Chandrakant Pandit has acknowledged that the franchise may have made a regrettable decision when it released Shreyas Iyer after KKR’s title triumph in IPL 2024, admitting, “Unfortunately, we missed him.” Pandit’s comments came as Iyer has continued to impact at Punjab Kings (PBKS), where he has guided the side to the IPL 2025 final and has helped them stay unbeaten during the early stages of IPL 2026.
Key takeaways
- Chandrakant Pandit said KKR “missed” Shreyas Iyer after the batter was released following the IPL 2024 title run.
- Iyer joined PBKS for Rs 26.75 crore in the mega auction ahead of IPL 2025.
- PBKS reached the IPL 2025 final with Iyer leading the batting unit.
- Pandit also pointed to the intense competition for India’s T20I spots as a reason players can be left out.
- He compared Iyer’s situation with other players KKR had to release, including Phil Salt.
Pandit on KKR’s call to release Iyer
Pandit, who served as KKR’s head coach during the period when the franchise moved on from Iyer, reflected on the decision after the batter’s strong performances for Punjab Kings. Speaking on Iyer’s rise at PBKS, he stressed that the release wasn’t driven by any deliberate attempt to exclude a talent, but rather by circumstances and long-term planning.
“Unfortunately, we missed him,” Pandit said, adding that Iyer is a top-quality player who delivered major impact for KKR as captain, including winning the trophy. He also said that while coaches can feel uncomfortable about such exits, professional set-ups sometimes require difficult changes even when a player is valued.
Pandit further explained: “Shreyas is a wonderful player who won the trophy for KKR as captain, and I admire the way he handled the team. But sometimes, certain circumstances and broader strategies force you to let such players go. Obviously, as a coach at KKR, I felt bad about that. It wasn’t a purposeful omission, but things simply didn’t work out for us.”
He then broadened the point beyond Iyer, saying the same feeling applies to Phil Salt and others—suggesting that franchise decisions often involve more than a single player’s form or reputation.
During IPL 2024, Pandit was part of the group that helped KKR win the title alongside Iyer and mentor Gautam Gambhir.
Iyer’s India T20I omission and his current form
Pandit also addressed Iyer’s absence from India’s T20I squad. He argued that strong competition for selection frequently leads to tough outcomes, even for established performers.
“Shreyas has been part of the Indian team and has delivered strong performances. Unfortunately, he was left out, but situations like this are not uncommon. When building a team, there is always the challenge of balancing experience with the need to groom new talent. With the depth of talent available, it becomes difficult to provide opportunities to every deserving player,” Pandit said.
He added that selection decisions are rarely straightforward, because replacements with similar capability can also emerge. Still, Pandit highlighted that Iyer has been leading Punjab impressively, and that his batting shows growing maturity.
“There is always competition, and often, equally capable replacements are available. That said, Shreyas has been leading Punjab impressively, and his batting reflects noticeable maturity. He plays with a fearless mindset, focusing less on the situation and more on winning the game, which is evident in the way he constructs his innings,” the 64-year-old added.
Stats spotlight: Iyer’s consistency
Iyer has been among the more dependable batters across the last two IPL seasons. In the current campaign, he has scored 208 runs in five innings, averaging 52 and striking at 182.45, reinforcing why Pandit believes KKR may have benefited from retaining him.
