Shreyas Iyer, the former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain, has opted to enter the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, setting the stage for a bidding war for his services. Iyer’s decision to leave KKR, where he led the team to the IPL title in 2024, has sparked speculation about his potential destination.
According to reports, Iyer’s former franchise, Delhi Capitals (DC), is keen on bringing him back. DC, who released Rishabh Pant ahead of the auction, is reportedly offering Iyer the captaincy role. With a purse of Rs 73 crore, DC has the financial muscle to make a significant bid for Iyer.
Iyer’s departure from KKR was amicable, according to CEO Venky Mysore. “There won’t be too many teams that would want Iyer the T20 batter, but just to ensure DC spends a bomb on a player, they might engage in a bidding war for Iyer,” said an IPL franchise official.
Meanwhile, other teams are also eyeing potential acquisitions. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is reportedly considering KL Rahul, who was released by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Rahul could be a potential captaincy option for RCB.
Punjab Kings is expected to retain Arshdeep Singh via the Right to Match (RTM) card if his value stays below Rs 20 crore. LSG is reportedly interested in wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan as a replacement for Rahul.
The IPL auction is set to be a major event, with several high-profile players available. Iyer’s availability is likely to be one of the most sought-after acquisitions, as teams look to bolster their squads for the upcoming season.
