Shreyas Iyer Left Out Again As KKR Celebrate IPL Win, Fans React – Shreyas Iyer Snubbed Again by KKR on IPL 2024 Anniversary
On May 26, 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) marked a major milestone: the second anniversary of their historic IPL 2024 championship win. It was a victory that ended a grueling ten-year title drought for the franchise, bringing home their third Indian Premier League trophy. Yet, as the franchise took to social media to celebrate, a glaring omission left fans baffled and angry. Shreyas Iyer, the captain who led them to that very glory, was once again completely missing from the celebratory posts. This recurring snub has reignited debate about the behind-the-scenes drama between the player and the franchise management.
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A Dominant Campaign: Remembering KKR’s IPL 2024 Triumph
To understand the gravity of the snub, one must look back at the magical night of May 26, 2024, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. KKR faced a formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) side, who had entered the final as heavy favorites due to their explosive batting performances throughout the season. However, Shreyas Iyer and his team executed a flawless plan.
The rout began with the very first over. KKR’s marquee signing Mitchell Starc produced an absolute peach of a delivery to clean bowl SRH opener Abhishek Sharma for just 2 runs. From there, SRH never recovered. The KKR bowling attack dismantled the opposition, bowling them out for a paltry 113 runs in 18.3 overs. Pat Cummins top-scored for SRH with 24, while Aiden Markram managed 20.
The chase was a mere formality. KKR chased down the total with 8 wickets in hand, with Venkatesh Iyer scoring an unbeaten 52 runs off 26 balls to guide the team home. Mitchell Starc was deservedly named Player of the Match for his outstanding spell of 2/14. Under the astute on-field leadership of Shreyas Iyer, KKR captured their third title, adding to their previous victories in 2012 and 2014.
The Rift: From Championship Captain to Mega Auction Exit
Despite the euphoric triumph, relations between Shreyas Iyer and the KKR management quickly deteriorated. The cricketing world was shocked when KKR decided to release their championship-winning captain ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Reports emerged suggesting that all was not well between Iyer and the franchise hierarchy.
In the highly anticipated mega auction, Punjab Kings (PBKS) seized the opportunity, securing Iyer’s services for a staggering INR 26.75 crore. Following his departure, Iyer opened up about his time at KKR, expressing feelings of underappreciation. He pointed out that he did not receive adequate credit for the 2024 title win, with the lion’s share of the praise going to team mentor Gautam Gambhir (who is currently India’s head coach) and other young players. Iyer emphasized that while mentors and coaches formulate plans, it was he who had to execute those high-pressure strategies on the field.
A Pattern of Pettiness: The Social Media Snub
What might have been dismissed as standard post-season fallout has now transformed into a systematic omission. In 2025, on the first anniversary of the title win, KKR posted various creatives across their social media platforms. Fans quickly noticed that Shreyas Iyer was absent from the graphics and wasn’t even mentioned in the captions.
Fast forward to May 26, 2026, and history has repeated itself. KKR shared special commemorative posts on X and Instagram. Once again, the winning captain was nowhere to be found. Instead, the main promotional creative featured all-rounder Andre Russell lifting the trophy. Other posts highlighted individual player statistics from the final but completely ignored Iyer’s leadership and contribution. This systematic erasure has not gone down well with the cricketing community. Fans flooded the comments section of KKR’s posts, accusing the franchise of being petty and unprofessional.
Shreyas Iyer’s Sweet Revenge on the Pitch
While KKR continues its social media cold war, Shreyas Iyer has been busy proving his mettle on the field. Since joining Punjab Kings, the star batsman has enjoyed immense success. He successfully guided PBKS to the IPL 2025 final, demonstrating his elite leadership qualities once again.
Furthermore, Iyer’s PBKS side has had a flying start to the IPL 2026 season, winning six of their first seven league matches. His consistent performances and tactical acumen have silenced his critics and highlighted the value he brings to any franchise.
Final Verdict: Time for KKR to Show Sportsmanship
A franchise’s legacy is built not just on trophies, but on how it treats the individuals who helped win them. Denying Shreyas Iyer his rightful place in KKR’s history books does more harm to the franchise’s reputation than it does to the player. Iyer has already moved on to bigger and better things with Punjab Kings, leaving his mark as one of the finest captains in the league.
For KKR, it is time to move past personal grudges. Acknowledging Iyer’s role in their 2024 triumph would be a sign of maturity and sportsmanship, bringing a positive closure to a chapter that fans still remember fondly. Until then, the fans will continue to call out the franchise for its controversial social media tactics.
