Chandrakant Pandit, the former head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), spoke about the circumstances surrounding Shreyas Iyer's departure from the team. Despite Iyer's success and leadership, Pandit noted that sometimes franchises must make difficult decisions based on broader strategies. Iyer, who joined the Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore (roughly $3.2 million USD), has since led the team to the IPL 2025 Final and remains undefeated in the first six matches of IPL 2026. Pandit expressed admiration for Iyer, stating, 'Shreyas is a wonderful player who won the trophy for KKR as captain.' He acknowledged the complexities of team building, highlighting the need to balance experienced players with emerging talent. Iyer's consistent performance over the last two IPL seasons further underscores his value in the league.