Shreyas Iyer Left Out Again As KKR Celebrate IPL Win, Fans React – Shreyas Iyer Snubbed Again by KKR in IPL 2024 Celebration; Fans Outraged
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) recently marked the second anniversary of their monumental triumph in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. On May 26, 2026, the franchise commemorated the day they ended a decade-long wait to clinch their third IPL title. This significant victory was achieved under the astute captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, a fact that has now become central to a recurring controversy. While KKR fans celebrated the historic moment, many observers and supporters noted a conspicuous absence in the team’s social media tributes: Shreyas Iyer himself, omitted for the second year in a row from the celebratory posts.
A Dominant Victory: KKR’s IPL 2024 Triumph
The IPL 2024 final, held at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, pitted KKR against a formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) side. SRH had entered the final as heavy favorites, having played a dominating season and earning a reputation as a juggernaut. However, Shreyas Iyer and his team had a meticulously crafted plan to counter their opponents’ aggression, and it was executed flawlessly.
The KKR bowlers, led by the exceptional Mitchell Starc, delivered a masterclass in pace and precision. Starc set the tone early in the match, clean bowling SRH opener Abhishek Sharma for a mere 2 runs with a delivery that was widely hailed as a peach. This early breakthrough sparked a collapse for SRH, who struggled to build any significant partnerships. Despite contributions from Pat Cummins (24 runs) and Aiden Markram (20 runs), Sunrisers Hyderabad was ultimately dismissed for a paltry total of 113 runs.
Chasing a modest target, Kolkata Knight Riders displayed remarkable composure and intent. Venkatesh Iyer spearheaded the chase with an unbeaten knock of 52 runs, guiding his team to a comfortable 8-wicket victory. Mitchell Starc’s sensational bowling figures of 2/14 earned him the Player of the Match award, cementing his impact on the final. This victory marked KKR’s third IPL championship, adding to their previous triumphs in 2012 and 2014, and breaking a lengthy dry spell for the franchise.
The KKR and Shreyas Iyer Controversy
Despite leading KKR to such a significant title, the relationship between Shreyas Iyer and the Kolkata Knight Riders management took an unexpected turn shortly after their IPL 2024 success. In a surprising move, KKR opted to release Iyer ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Reports circulated suggesting underlying tensions and disagreements between the star captain and the franchise’s hierarchy.
Following his release, Shreyas Iyer was acquired by Punjab Kings for a substantial sum of INR 26.75 crore in the mega auction. The narrative, however, did not end with his departure. Iyer himself openly expressed his feelings about not receiving sufficient credit for KKR’s title win. He highlighted that much of the attention and praise had been directed towards mentor Gautam Gambhir, who has since become India’s head coach. Many young players within the KKR setup had publicly credited Gambhir with instigating a turnaround, which, according to Iyer, overshadowed his on-field leadership and execution of plans.
Since his move, Iyer’s career has continued to flourish. He successfully guided the Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final, demonstrating his captaincy prowess once again. Furthermore, he enjoyed a fantastic start to the IPL 2026 season, leading his new team to victory in six out of their first seven league games, reaffirming his status as a top-tier performer and leader in the league.
A Pattern of Omission: Iyer Left Out of KKR Celebrations
The controversy surrounding Shreyas Iyer’s acknowledgment intensified when Kolkata Knight Riders began their anniversary celebrations. Notably, on May 26, 2025, the first anniversary of their IPL 2024 win, KKR posted several creatives on social media. Fans quickly observed that Shreyas Iyer was conspicuously absent from these commemorative photos and posters, and his leadership was not even mentioned in the accompanying captions. This initial oversight sparked considerable discussion and criticism among the cricketing fraternity.
Fast forward to May 26, 2026, and the situation repeated itself. KKR once again shared special posts across their official X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram accounts to celebrate the second anniversary of their triumph. Yet again, for the second year in a row, Shreyas Iyer was noticeably missing from these digital tributes. While other posts highlighted performance statistics of various KKR players from the IPL 2024 final, the main celebratory graphic prominently featured Andre Russell holding the coveted trophy aloft, with no visual or textual reference to Iyer’s captaincy.
Fan Discontent and Calls for Recognition
The repeated omission of Shreyas Iyer from KKR’s social media celebrations of their IPL 2024 title victory did not go unnoticed by the passionate fan base. Supporters immediately voiced their displeasure, criticizing the team for what they perceived as a deliberate and “cunning approach” to downplay Iyer’s crucial role. Social media platforms quickly became a forum for fans to express their unhappiness and chastise the franchise.
Many fans highlighted the undeniable fact that Iyer was the on-field captain who executed the strategies that led to KKR becoming three-time champions of the Indian Premier League. The sentiment among a significant portion of the fan base is that KKR’s actions are both baffling and disrespectful, especially given Iyer’s public statements about the lack of credit he received. It appears to many that while the team celebrates the victory, it is selectively forgetting the individual who lifted the trophy as captain.
Reflecting on KKR’s Stance and the Path Forward
The decision by Kolkata Knight Riders to consistently overlook Shreyas Iyer’s contribution to their IPL 2024 win, particularly when he was the captain who led them to their third championship, is a point of ongoing contention. Iyer himself previously articulated how other players, the head coach, and the mentor received more recognition than him, despite his pivotal role in executing the team’s plans on the field.
From an objective standpoint, it is often seen that the more established entity in a dispute holds the responsibility to act with greater magnanimity. For KKR to acknowledge Shreyas Iyer’s efforts in securing their IPL 2024 victory would not only be a gesture of goodwill but could also help in bringing closure to this contentious issue on a positive note. Continuing with such perceived slights, rather than celebrating all key figures involved in a monumental achievement, risks alienating segments of their loyal fan base and perpetuating an unnecessary dispute.
The image above depicts Shreyas Iyer alongside Gautam Gambhir for KKR. Image Credits: X
