Today was supposed to be a celebration—a throwback to glory. KKR uploaded a social media post to mark one year since their 3rd IPL title, featuring the big stars from that victorious 2024 squad.
But the Knight Riders didn’t include Shreyas Iyer in it. Umm, wasn’t he the captain under whom they won?
Well, fans noticed. Of course, they noticed. And then—you can guess what happened next. KKR found itself in the cross-hairs of furious fans, who said that the captain who led them to a title at least deserved a mention.
Phil Salt and Mitchell Starc were also part of that title-winning squad—two heavyweights who played a massive role in that run. But even they didn’t get a mention. The reason? KKR only included players from the 2024 championship team who are still part of their current squad.
Hmm. Okay, “out of squad, out of sight”? Maybe.
But even though Iyer is now leading Punjab, surely a title-winning captain deserves a mention.
He wasn’t just another squad member. He was the captain. A simple tag, a line of thanks, a “Shreyas, you were gold”—that’s all it would’ve taken.
If nothing else, it might’ve helped ease the lingering tension between Iyer and the KKR management after they released him following the 2024 season. You had your chance, KKR—but you let it go up in flames. And now, the internet is roasting marshmallows over it.
Shreyas Iyer, of course, would be the least bothered. After all, he’s found a new home with the Punjab Kings. And he’s showing exactly why KKR did so well last year. After leading the Knights to the title in 2024, he’s now taken Punjab to a top-two finish this season. Not just that, he also led Delhi Capitals to their first-ever IPL final in 2020.
Clearly, his leadership over the years has often gone underappreciated. But if Punjab wins their maiden title under his captaincy, he’ll be nothing short of a demigod for the Kings' fans.
