Shreyas Iyer, the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) who led the team to victory in IPL 2024, has opened up about not being retained by the franchise for the upcoming season. In a candid interview, Iyer revealed that the lack of communication from the Shah Rukh Khan-owned team left him perplexed, making him uncertain about his future with KKR. He mentioned that despite winning the IPL title, there were no concrete talks regarding retention until just a week before the retention deadline, which led to a mutual parting of ways.

"I was perplexed about what's happening... there was a layover and no concrete effort in having a retention talk," Iyer told Indian Express. He also expressed disappointment, stating that the absence of a clear line of communication contributed to his decision.

However, former India opener and KKR veteran Aakash Chopra has contradicted Iyer’s claims, asserting that there were indeed several discussions with Shreyas Iyer regarding his future with the team. Chopra, quoting sources, stated that while the talks were lengthy, no agreement was reached. He also hinted that Iyer had some concerns that ultimately played a role in the situation.

"Shreyas had some apprehensions... and what transpired is quite interesting," Chopra commented on his YouTube channel. Despite Iyer's statements, Chopra confirmed that there were indeed talks, though they didn’t lead to an agreement.

This disagreement over the retention issue has sparked considerable debate, with both players presenting conflicting narratives about what transpired between Shreyas Iyer and KKR management.