Kolkata Knight Riders could be in hunt for a new captain ahead of the next Indian Premier League season with a report claiming Shreyas Iyer is set to leave the franchise despite leading them to triumph earlier this year. Iyer was appointed KKR captain after being bought during IPL 2022 auction for Rs 12.25 crore.
According to a report in Cricbuzz, Iyer was reportedly negotiating with the franchise for a fatter paycheck, a demand which KKR haven’t agreed to meaning he won’t be on their retention list. However, it doesn’t mean that their story has ended as the three-time IPL champions can use the Right to Match (RTM) card to buy him at the mega auction expected to be held in November last week.
The decision to exclude Iyer from the retention list is driven by a mix of his financial demands and KKR’s future strategies. Traditionally, IPL franchises prioritize retaining Indian players, especially those with leadership capabilities. However, the recent dip in Iyer’s form and his injury struggles, which sidelined him for the entire 2023 season, have raised questions about his current value. With only 3127 runs in 115 IPL matches and no central BCCI contract, Iyer’s position is precarious.
Moreover, the emergence of new talent and the need for teams to balance their rosters for the upcoming season complicate matters. Franchises are constantly recalibrating their strategies, especially as player agents negotiate behind the scenes, promising astronomical figures to their clients. This precarious situation leaves many players, including Iyer, in a dilemma as they weigh their options for the auction next month.
Since joining KKR, the 29-year-old has scored 752 runs in 28 matches including five half-centuries. He missed the entire IPL 2023 due to an injury with Nitish Rana leading the team in his absence.
Overall, Iyer has played 115 matches in his IPL career so far and scored 3127 runs at a strike-rate of 127.48. Besides KKR, he has also played for Delhi Capitals.
With a host of teams in search of a new captain, Iyer is expected to be a hot property at the auctions and could trigger bidding war.
