Former Kolkata Knight Riders coach Chandrakant Pandit has admitted that the franchise made a mistake by releasing Shreyas Iyer after their IPL 2024 title-winning campaign. Speaking to RevSportz, Pandit candidly said, “Unfortunately, we missed him,” acknowledging the impact of the decision.
Iyer has since gone on to shine with Punjab Kings, who secured him for ₹26.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Under his leadership, PBKS finished runners-up in IPL 2026 and have started the current season strongly, remaining unbeaten with five consecutive wins.
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Pandit praised Iyer’s leadership qualities, calling him a “wonderful player” who played a crucial role in KKR’s title triumph as captain. He highlighted Iyer’s ability to manage the team effectively and lead from the front. However, the veteran coach noted that team strategies and circumstances sometimes force difficult decisions, even if it means parting ways with key players.
Expressing regret, Pandit added that Iyer was not the only departure he felt strongly about. He mentioned players like Phil Salt, indicating that similar situations affected others as well.
He also addressed Iyer’s absence from India’s T20I setup, attributing it to intense competition and the challenge of balancing experience with emerging talent.
Lauding Iyer’s current form, Pandit said his fearless mindset and mature batting approach have been key to his success, making him one of the standout leaders in the league today
