Overview:
Shreyas Iyer didn’t just shine in Kolkata but he immediately transformed Punjab Kings into title contenders. To Kumble, this cements the idea that KKR misjudged a key leader.
KKR’s choice to part ways with Shreyas Iyer ahead of IPL 2025 has once again come under the spotlight, with Anil Kumble questioning the franchise’s retention strategy. Kumble believes that Kolkata may have let go of more than just a talented batter. In his view, the decision weakened the team’s championship core, as both Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt had been instrumental in KKR’s title-winning campaign.
Kumble’s criticism goes beyond typical squad management opinions. He argues that KKR failed to sustain the momentum and cohesion of their championship-winning core, ultimately parting ways with a proven IPL-winning captain.
“Two years back, KKR clinched their third IPL title, with Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt playing pivotal roles in that success. Both were key contributors, yet the franchise chose to let them go. Their approach to player retention lacks consistency. By releasing Shreyas and Phil, KKR lost not only two top performers but also an IPL-winning captain,” Kumble said on JioHotstar.
What sets his assessment apart is the emphasis on leadership. According to Kumble, the franchise did not just let go of two impactful performers they also lost a captain capable of guiding the team to victory.
Focusing on Shreyas, Kumble underlined that the batter’s captaincy skills are still not appreciated, despite clear evidence of his success.
“Shreyas Iyer is definitely an undervalued captain. Winning a title with one franchise and then moving to another is never easy. A new team means a new management, a different environment, and fresh pressures. The franchise he joined, Punjab Kings, hadn’t reached a final in the past decade, but he led them all the way to the final. What impressed me most was not only his captaincy but also the way he guided the team by leading from the front,” he added.
Shreyas Iyer didn’t just shine in Kolkata but he immediately transformed Punjab Kings into title contenders. To Kumble, this cements the idea that KKR misjudged a key leader.