“2024 mein woh underrated the” - Vaibhav Arora on Shreyas Iyer not getting credit for KKR title win
Published - 28 Mar 2026, 03:20 PM | Updated - 28 Mar 2026, 03:21 PM
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fast bowler Vaibhav Arora recently shared his thoughts on Shreyas Iyer and his captaincy ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Vaibhav stated that the right-handed batter did receive credit after guiding the Kolkata-based franchise to their third title during the 2024 season.
The franchise lost only three matches in 2024 under Shreyas Iyer. However, he was released by the squad for the subsequent season. The move surprised fans and experts in the cricketing world. Notably, the middle-order batter guided Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the final in 2025, but they lost the summit clash.
2024 Mein Unko Credit Mila Hai - Vaibhav Arora On Shreyas Iyer
Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube channel, Vaibhav Arora stated that Shreyas Iyer did get credit for guiding Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in 2024. However, the fast bowler added that Shreyas was underrated in 2024 but not now.
“2024 mein unko credit mila hai. Ab nahi sir, lekin 2024 mein woh thoda underrated the. (In 2024, he did get the credit. Not now, sir, but in 2024, he was slightly underrated.)”
During that season, the media spotlight was on mentor Gautam Gambhir, who was seen as the mastermind. Strong performances from Sunil Narine, Phil Salt, Mitchell Starc, and Varun Chakravarthy overshadowed the key decisions made by Shreyas.
Shreyas Iyer Proves His Worth With Punjab Kings
After finishing at the top of the points table and sweeping Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2024 final, Shreyas Iyer was released by Kolkata Knight Riders.
However, Punjab Kings acquired the middle-order batter for a staggering ₹26.75 crore during the mega auction, making him the second-most expensive player in Indian Premier League history.
Shreyas delivered outstanding results for the franchise. He led Punjab Kings to a runner-up finish in 2025. The captain scored 604 runs in 17 innings at an impressive average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 175.07, including six half-centuries, with a best score of an unbeaten 97.
Vaibhav Arora Preparing For Indian Premier League 2026
Meanwhile, Vaibhav Arora is dedicating time during recent training camps to improve different aspects of his fast bowling ahead of the IPL 2026 season.
The 28-year-old pacer is taking inspiration and technical guidance from New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee, who recently joined the Kolkata Knight Riders setup as their bowling coach.
Arora played an important role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title-winning campaign, picking up 11 wickets in 10 matches. He made his debut for the Kolkata franchise in 2023. Overall, the seamer has taken 36 wickets in 32 matches at a strike rate of 17.72 and an economy rate of 9.55.
Kolkata Knight Riders, led by Ajinkya Rahane, will open their campaign against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, March 29. They will aim to secure a victory and start the tournament on a positive note.
Also read: Ishan Kishan set to create history as SRH captain in IPL 2026 opener against RCB
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