‘Shreyas Iyer felt underappreciated at KKR…’: Robin Uthappa makes bold statement about former franchise

Uthappa on Iyer’s exit from KKR.

Shreyas Iyer, is one of the key reason behind Punjab Kings remarkable comeback, which also proves why he’s regarded as one of the top leaders in T20 cricket today. After leading Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL 2024 title, Iyer joined PBKS a team still chasing its first-ever trophy ahead of the 2025 season.

Though initially criticized, Shreyas Iyer proved his capability to bring out the best in his players. However, his success with PBKS also stems from the pain of feeling ‘underappreciated’ at KKR, as pointed out by former India cricketer Robin Uthappa.

In a conversation on JioStar, former Knight Riders player Robin Uthappa revealed that Iyer was unhappy with his role at the franchise last year, which ultimately led to his decision to leave.

“Shreyas has always been an exceptional captain. You always sensed that he felt underappreciated at KKR despite adding value there. He moved to a franchise where not much had been achieved historically, and then went on to win it for them. That says a lot about his leadership and belief,” Uthappa said

Following their victory over Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings secured a spot in the top two of the playoff race.

“You want momentum at the right point in the tournament and the right kind of impetus going into the play-offs. Punjab started the tournament exceptionally well, lost a bit of steam towards the back end of the league stage, but regained momentum just before the play-offs,” said Uthappa.

“Granted, they’re losing a player or two to national duty, but even within the squad, the batting line-up looks really solid. For me, Arshdeep Singh hasn’t quite fired yet, and that actually augurs well for Punjab. It means he’s due for a big performance and will be raring to go in crucial games,” he added.