Shreyas Iyer, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain had earlier revealed during the ongoing IPL 2022 that the team’s CEO Venky Mysore was also involved in the team selection. However, the KKR skipper later clarified, saying he meant that the CEO was there to console players who were sitting out.
Ex-India opener Aakash Chopra believes Shreyas Iyer may have been told to change his statement by the team management. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the cricketer-turned-commentator reckoned that the KKR management might have wanted Shreyas Iyer to issue a clarification over his comments about Venky Mysore.
Shreyas Iyer May Have Been Told To Change His Statement That KKR CEO Venky Mysore Is Involved In Team Selection: Aakash Chopra
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Shreyas Iyer has issued a clarification over his “CEO is also obviously involved in team selections” remarks.
Aakash Chopra said: “Shreyas Iyer once said in a press conference that the KKR CEO is also involved in team selection. I think he got a rap on his knuckles and maybe he was told to change his statement. He then clarified that he had meant that the CEO motivates players when they get dropped and consoles them, but he isn’t involved in the team selection.”
On Monday, May 9, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Shreyas Iyer made a big revelation after the dominant 52-run win in the 56th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy. Shreyas Iyer revealed that the CEO of Kolkata Knight Riders, Venky Mysore, at times, is also involved in the selection of the playing XI.
“Coach and at times, CEO is also obviously involved in team selections. Each and every player takes it well, and they have put in their best efforts,” he said.
After Shreyas Iyer’s comments, a controversy sparked and several cricket pundits slammed the KKR CEO for his involvement in team selection. However, KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer, speaking after the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, May 14, issued a clarification over his previous comments. Shreyas Iyer said that when he took Venky Mysore’s name in his last interview he wanted to say that the CEO is in the team to “console the players” who were not making it to the playing XI.
“Also I want to clarify from the last interview. When I took the CEO’s name, I wanted to say that he’s there to console the players who’ve been sitting out. It’s tough for us as well when we select the team, ” Shreyas Iyer asserted.
The two-run loss against Lucknow Super Giants knocked Kolkata Knight Riders out of the IPL but that did not stop losing captain Shreyas Iyer to describe it as “one of the best games” that he has ever been part of.
Shreyas Iyer Looked Upset While Talking To Brendon McCullum After Getting dismissed Against Rajasthan: Aakash Chopra
He pointed out that Shreyas Iyer ‘looked upset’ while in conversation with head coach Brendon McCullum after his dismissal against Rajasthan Royals (RR).
“But I am not sure about that because we saw in one game that he visibly looked upset while talking to Brendon McCullum after getting out against RR.”
The franchise is expected to introduce some changes to its coaching staff for next year’s cash-rich league. Brendon McCullum will no longer serve as the team’s head coach. He stepped down from his position after the side’s elimination. He has been appointed as the new coach of England’s Test side.
The Kolkata-based side started its campaign on a promising note, winning three of its first four fixtures. However, they struggled with their consistency soon after and ended up in the bottom half of the standings. Last season’s finalists failed to make it to the IPL playoffs this year. The Shreyas Iyer-led side was able to secure just six wins from their fourteen games and finished seventh in the points table.
Shreyas Iyer as a captain was a big step-up from an off-form Eoin Morgan. Shreyas Iyer is tactically adept and a breathtaking player of spin, something that KKR needed this year. In his first season with the franchise where the team was being chopped and changed on a daily basis, Shreyas Iyer stood tall, scoring 401 runs from his 14 matches, making it a successful debut season.
With an unsettled squad, Rinku Singh was given a chance and he took it with open arms. 174 runs in just 7 matches at a strike rate of 149 is breathtaking for an uncapped player. However, retained by KKR despite fitness and injury issues, spinner Varun Chakravarthy failed to find his rhythm. He played 11 matches and picked just 6 wickets at an economy of 8.5.
KKR bought Shivam Mavi for a stellar price of Rs 7.25 crore and played him for just 6 games. Shivam Mavi leaked runs at the economy of over 10 and took just 5 wickets in the entire season.
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