Shreyas Iyer Left Out Again As KKR Celebrate IPL Win, Fans React – Shreyas Iyer Left Out Again As KKR Celebrates IPL 2024 Triumph

The Anniversary of KKR’s IPL 2024 Glory

On May 26, 2026, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) marked the second anniversary of their historic Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 triumph. It was on this day that KKR ended a agonizing ten-year wait to secure their third IPL championship, a feat achieved under the leadership of captain Shreyas Iyer. However, instead of a unified celebration of this monumental achievement, the franchise’s social media activities have sparked widespread criticism for once again erasing their title-winning captain from the narrative.

How Shreyas Iyer Led KKR to Their Third IPL Title

The final of the IPL 2024 was played at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) entered the ultimate clash as heavy favorites, riding on a wave of dominant, high-scoring performances throughout the season. However, Shreyas Iyer and his team had a meticulously planned strategy to counter the Hyderabad juggernaut.

The KKR bowling attack delivered a masterclass from the very beginning. Australian speedster Mitchell Starc set the tone for the match by clean bowling the dangerous Abhishek Sharma for just 2 runs with an absolute peach of a delivery. The SRH batting lineup crumbled under relentless pressure, eventually being bundled out for a meager 113 runs. Pat Cummins top-scored for SRH with 24 runs, while Aiden Markram chipped in with 20.

In response, KKR chased down the target effortlessly, losing just two wickets in the process. Venkatesh Iyer anchored the chase with a stellar, unbeaten 52*, ensuring a dominating 8-wicket victory. Mitchell Starc was named the Player of the Match for his outstanding spell of 2/14. This victory marked KKR’s third IPL title, adding to their previous championship wins in 2012 and 2014.

The Shock Release and the Megabucks Move to Punjab Kings

Despite the emphatic championship run, the relationship between Shreyas Iyer and the KKR management deteriorated rapidly behind the scenes. In a move that shocked the cricketing fraternity, KKR decided to release their title-winning captain ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Reports circulating at the time suggested significant disagreements between Iyer and the franchise hierarchy.

Iyer’s release turned out to be a massive talking point at the mega auction, where the Punjab Kings (PBKS) secured his services for a staggering INR 26.75 crore. Following the move, Iyer publicly expressed his disappointment regarding the lack of credit he received for KKR’s 2024 title victory. He pointed out that while he was the one executing strategies on the field, the lion’s share of the credit was directed toward team mentor Gautam Gambhir, who has since transitioned to the role of India’s head coach, as well as the young core of the squad.

Since parting ways with KKR, Shreyas Iyer has continued to prove his mettle as a high-caliber leader. He successfully guided the Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final and followed it up with a brilliant start to the IPL 2026 season, securing six victories in their first seven league games.

Two Years of Silence: KKR’s Social Media Snub Continues

The controversy surrounding Iyer and KKR has been kept alive by the franchise’s social media strategy. On May 26, 2025, during the first anniversary of the title win, KKR posted several creatives and celebratory messages online. Strikingly, Shreyas Iyer was completely omitted from the photos, graphics, and captions.

History repeated itself on May 26, 2026. KKR shared special commemorative posts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to celebrate two years of their championship. For the second consecutive year, Iyer was entirely missing from the promotional content. While the secondary posts highlighted individual player statistics from the 2024 final, the main celebratory graphic prominently featured all-rounder Andre Russell lifting the trophy over his head instead of the captain who actually hoisted it on the podium.

Fans React to the Petty Omission

The deliberate omission of Shreyas Iyer did not go unnoticed by cricket fans, who quickly took to social media to call out the franchise for its apparent pettiness. Many fans expressed their disappointment, arguing that KKR should act as the bigger entity and acknowledge the contributions of the captain who broke their decade-long title drought.

By failing to recognize Iyer’s pivotal role in their third championship, KKR’s social media strategy has drawn unnecessary negative attention. Acknowledging Shreyas Iyer’s efforts would not only bring closure to the past dispute but also maintain the professional standards expected of a multi-time IPL champion franchise.