The Iyer touch: PBKS on the rise, KKR on the downward spiral

Gen Zs call it a “generational fumble” – the one you let slip and then spend nights wondering what might have been. Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) inability to find a way to hold on to captain Shreyas Iyer after their IPL 2024 victory will appear like one to those from the outside. Their loss has been Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) gain, and the two teams face each other on Monday after extremely contrasting starts to IPL 2026.

After more than a decade of being the team most memed about off the field and among the least threatening on it, the Iyer touch has made PBKS formidable after a run to the final in 2025.

They have started this season from where they left off. Iyer used just five bowlers to restrict Gujarat Titans to 162 in New Chandigarh and then, after keeping Chennai Super Kings to 209 on a batting-friendly Chepauk surface, he smacked 50 to shepherd a successful chase. His shots in that innings were so smooth that it didn’t seem like he was operating at a strike rate of 172.41.

KKR, on the other hand, have found some runs from their next captain Ajinkya Rahane, but something has been missing as they finished way outside the playoff positions in 2025 and have started 2026 with two defeats. Among things that can be measured, their Nos. 4 to 8 have had the highest dot-ball percentage, the third-lowest batting average and third-lowest batting strike rate since IPL 2025.

It is easy to value what is visible – runs, averages, strike rates, economies – but what is harder to identify and harder still to replace, is leadership. Iyer and KKR could not agree on the worth of their No. 4 and captain, and PBKS found a rare opportunity to pick up a proven, young leader who could reunite with a coach he didn’t need to build a relationship with from scratch.

The general consensus in cricket circles is that Iyer has been among the most inspirational captains of the 2020s. Tom Moody feels his calmness has a trickle-down effect on the rest of the team. Brad Haddin has highlighted his care for players. Ian Bishop has noted his willingness to make things happen rather than wait.

The stats back it up. At a win percentage of over 60%, Iyer’s record is better than MS Dhoni’s and Rohit Sharma’s. And Iyer is the only one to have captained three different teams to the IPL final, in 2020 (Delhi Capitals), in 2024 (KKR) and in 2025 (PBKS).

And we haven’t even spoken about his batting. Iyer was always one of the best players of spin, but he also ironed out his issues against the short ball, and the result of both was his 604 runs at a strike rate of 175 in IPL 2025. Since Iyer left, KKR have been trying to fill that No. 4 slot. Unsuccessfully.

For PBKS, the decision to pursue Iyer at the auction was straightforward. A franchise that had spent years going through a number of captains suddenly had an opportunity of finding a stable leader offering a long-term vision. All that value from Iyer simply outweighed the size of the cheque they eventually dished out.

While it would be reductive to attribute all of PBKS’ recent success and KKR’s dip in results to one individual, he has played a crucial part. And when he walks out on Monday in front of an Eden Gardens crowd that he once commanded, there might be many who wonder: what could have been?