'It Was About Respect': Punjab Kings Skipper Shreyas Iyer Takes An Indirect Dig At Kolkata Knight Riders Ahead Of IPL 2025

Shreyas Iyer expressed that he wasn't given enough recognition and value while being a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders and leading to their third title in the IPL 2024 season. Iyer expressed to keep going and doing things right despite not receiving the distinction for his work on leading the side towards glory, as it was more important for the Indian middle-order batter.

Shreyas Iyer Takes A Dig At KKR After IPL Title Win & Champions Trophy Success 

Shreyas Iyer ran out of favors after being ruled out of the BCCI's list of centrally contracted players, and it hasn't been a favourable time for the Indian batter. He was also let go by KKR despite helping them win the IPL 2024 season. But Iyer managed to find his groove back with his participation in domestic cricket, as he helped Mumbai win titles across the domestic leagues. Iyer also got his spot on the ODI unit once again and played a vital role in India's winning campaign at the Champions Trophy 2025. However, Iyer thinks that he did not get enough value during his time in the Kolkata Knight Riders despite rallying them towards a successful campaign.

"Frustration toh nahi tha because I was playing IPL. The major focus was to win the IPL, and thankfully, I won it. I personally felt I didn't get the recognition I wanted to after winning the IPL but at the end of the day, as long as you have self-integrity and you keep doing the right things when no one is watching, that is more important and that is what I kept doing.

"When I talk about recognition, it's about getting that respect. It was about the respect for whatever efforts I put on the field. I think sometimes it gets unnoticed but extremely satisfied with the efforts I put in because they weren't easy wickets to bat on," Shreyas Iyer said while speaking to TOI.

Also Read: 'The GUN Has Arrived': Hardik Pandya Joins Mumbai Indians Camp After Team India's Grand Finish At Champions Trophy 2025

Shreyas Iyer Will Be A Hot Commodity In IPL 2025

After the Kolkata Knight Riders let Shreyas Iyer go during the retention period, the batter became one of the most sought-after stars in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The Punjab Kings outbid Delhi Capitals to eventually pick up Iyer in the auction for a whooping sum of INR 26.75 crore.

Shreyas Iyer was also announced as the skipper of the IPL franchise, and he will be working under Ricky Ponting's mentorship. PBKS went through a major overhaul, and they have become a legitimate title contender in the upcoming 2025 season.

Punjab Kings will begin their campaign against the Gujarat Titans in an away fixture, which will take place on 25th March 2025 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Also Read: 'He Brought That X-Factor': R. Ashwin's Blunt Take On ICC Handing Player Of The Tournament Award To Rachin Ravindra