“When I raised my concern, no one was agreeing to it” – Shreyas Iyer on the tough period after ODI World Cup ahead of IPL 2024 final

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Shreyas Iyer opened up about his struggles following a stellar performance as India’s No. 4 in the ODI World Cup. After a series of disappointing scores in the Test series against South Africa and England, Iyer found himself dropped from the red-ball side.

Amidst these challenges, there were reports of Iyer experiencing groin pain, leading him to inform his domestic team, Mumbai, that he couldn’t participate in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal. This decision seemingly didn’t sit well with the board, resulting in Iyer being overlooked in the latest round of central contracts.

Despite these setbacks, Shreyas Iyer is now in a better place as his team is on the brink of potentially winning their third IPL title. Speaking to reporters ahead of the final against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), Iyer shared:

“I was struggling after the World Cup in the longer format. When I raised my concern, no one was agreeing to it. But at the same time, the competition is with myself. When IPL was approaching, all I wanted was to put my best foot forward. Whatever planning and strategizing we did, if we could execute it to the best of our ability, we would be in a great spot, and that’s where we are now.”

In IPL 2024, Iyer has been in impressive form, scoring 345 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 146.19, including two half-centuries. His unbeaten 58* against SRH in Qualifier 1 was crucial in securing KKR’s place in the final.

Shreyas Iyer on Gautam Gambhir’s impact on KKR

Gautam Gambhir’s return as the mentor for KKR ahead of the IPL 2024 season is widely regarded as a key factor in the team’s success. Many believe that the former KKR captain’s strategic brilliance has been instrumental in Kolkata reaching the final.

Shreyas Iyer highlighted Gambhir’s influence, saying:

“I feel he (Gambhir) has immense knowledge about how the game is played. He has won two titles with KKR, and his strategies have been spot on. He adds a lot of cream to the team. Hopefully, we continue with the same momentum in the final as well, with his knowledge being put to use.”

Gambhir led KKR to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, with the first triumph coming at Chepauk. As KKR prepares to face SRH in the final on Sunday (May 26), fans are eager to see if Kolkata can replicate their success from 12 years ago at the same venue.