IPL Auction 2025: Shreyas Iyer exposed brutally as Kolkata Knight Riders issue an official statement

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) CEO Venky Mysore has opened up about the decision not to retain captain Shreyas Iyer ahead of the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. Venky Mysore said that Shreyas Iyer was at the top of their retention list but added that the batter wanted to explore his market value during the auction.

Shreyas led the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title in 2024. However, he was not retained by the franchise for the 2025 season. This decision surprised many, as Iyer ended KKR's decade-long title drought. It’s rare for a captain to be released by the franchise the very next season after winning the title.

Kolkata Knight Riders Retained Six Players Before IPL 2025 Mega Auction

KKR retained six players for the upcoming season, with Rinku Singh being their top choice at ₹13 crore. They also retained Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, along with spinner Varun Chakravarthy at ₹12 crore each. Uncapped players Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh were retained by the team at ₹4 crore each.

Shreyas Iyer joined KKR for ₹12.25 crore before IPL 2022. He scored 351 runs in 14 innings with an average of 39 and a strike rate of 146.86 during their title-winning campaign. Following his release before the IPL 2025 mega auction, KKR will search for a new captain with a ₹63 crore left in their budget.

Shreyas Iyer Was The First Name In Our Retention List - Venky Mysore

Speaking to RevSportz, Venky Mysore said that Shreyas Iyer’s non-retention was his decision rather than KKR’s. Mysore said that Shreyas was their top choice for retention but added that the player may be interested in exploring his market value in the upcoming auction.

"Shreyas Iyer was the first name in our retention list. However, the retention process isn’t a one-way street. It is not just about the franchise. It is also about the player wanting to be retained, to continue with the franchise. Of course, Shreyas was the first name in our list. He was the skipper. That’s why we got him in 2022," said Mysore.

Made It Clear That The Captaincy Was There For Him - Venky Mysore

Venky Mysore said that KKR had supported Shreyas Iyer to reclaim the captaincy after returning from his injury. Venky stated some decisions are beyond their control, adding that KKR respects a player's wish to explore their value in the auction.

"Even when he was injured, we had made it clear that the captaincy was there for him to take back. So you can very well understand. However, there are often things that you don’t control," Venky further stated.

"If a player wants to test his market value, and the auction is the best marketplace to do that, it is always fair to let him to do so. That’s what we at KKR have always believed in, and have backed our players. At a personal level, I share a very good rapport with Shreyas, but it is also true he should have the freedom to decide," he concluded.

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