‘He will be fired up and…’ – Sunil Gavaskar expects Shreyas Iyer to perform well against former side KKR

Defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to host Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Saturday night. Eden Gardens is set for a former familiar face to return home for the huge clash. PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer will be back at the Eden Gardens after leading KKR to their third title win last season. Former India batting great Sunil Gavaskar feels that the 30-year-old will have a point to prove to his former side. 

Shreyas Iyer wasn’t retained by KKR despite winning the title last season. Kolkata brought Ajinkya Rahane in the final rounds of the auction process and named him the skipper of the side for the new season. Iyer was picked by PBKS for INR 26.75 crores, which was the costliest price paid for a player before it was overtaken by Rishabh Pant and Lucknow Super Giants. 

Sunil Gavaskar was quoted by India Today as saying, “He will be fired up. And if he had been, you know, I've been out of form, if they had not done well, then one could understand. But the captain of a winning team not being retained will hurt. No question about it, that will hurt."

The former India skipper further said, “Now he's got it; he went for much, much more to PBKS, which is fine. That would have given him a little bit of consolation, but nobody wants to be left out, and that is the thing. So clearly, I think he will have a point to prove. Or maybe half a dozen points to prove.”

KKR looking for revenge after humiliating loss last time 

Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders will be looking to beat PBKS at home and exact revenge for their loss last time. PBKS were all out for just 111 and then Yuzvendra Chahal’s four-wicket haul helped Punjab win the game by 16 runs. If KKR loses the game on Saturday, then it could spell huge trouble for their season. 

Aakash Chopra also chimed in to give his take on Iyer’s return to KKR on his YouTube channel, where he said, “There is a subplot here, Shreyas Iyer going back to Kolkata. It seemed like there was a slight needle in the last match. It was a slightly personal match for Shreyas. However, you have gone to Kolkata here. So you will personally feel it even more. Shreyas Iyer might have already written a tweet and kept it in drafts: 'It's good to be back in Kolkata always."