Venkatesh Iyer says KKR created no place for mediocrity under Gambhir
Venkatesh Iyer said he faced online criticism from KKR fans over Shubman Gill's release and praised the franchise's culture under Gautam Gambhir.
Venkatesh Iyer said Kolkata Knight Riders created an environment with no place for mediocrity under Gautam Gambhir. He noted that the franchise has given more India debuts than any other team and that the decision to release Shubman Gill before the 2022 mega auction was a management call.
Iyer faced online criticism from KKR fans whenever Gill performed well, with supporters claiming the franchise had lost a diamond for gold. He said he understood the decision at the time and had no say in the matter. He later benefited when Shreyas Iyer was not retained.
The criticism continued even after Iyer moved to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He added that Narine and Salt opened for KKR during the 2024 IPL title-winning season.
CricHubb Take
Iyer's move to RCB after years at KKR shows how the same player can be celebrated in one dressing room and questioned in another, even when the underlying talent never changed.