Anil Kumble Calls Out KKR’s “Wrong Decision” to Release Iyer and Salt Ahead of IPL 2026

Anil Kumble has said out loud what many cricket fans have been thinking for months. Kolkata Knight Riders released their IPL 2024 title-winning captain Shreyas Iyer and explosive opener Phil Salt after lifting the trophy, and according to the legendary spinner, that was simply the wrong call. IPL 2026 begins on March 28 and KKR start their campaign on March 29 against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium, already carrying the weight of a difficult IPL 2025 season and now this very public criticism from one of India’s greatest cricket minds. Follow every KKR fixture this season on the IPL 2026 full match schedule.

What Kumble Actually Said About KKR’s Decision

Kumble did not soften his criticism when speaking via a JioHotstar release. He pointed to both Iyer and Salt as crucial cogs in KKR’s IPL 2024 title-winning machine and questioned the franchise’s consistency in retaining key players.

His central argument was simple and hard to argue against. An IPL-winning captain gives a franchise an enormous psychological and tactical advantage. That captain knows how to handle pressure, knows how to manage a dressing room during a long tournament, and has already proven they can deliver when it matters most. By releasing Iyer, KKR gave away that advantage freely and both players went on to prove exactly how valuable they were with their next franchises.

Kumble made it clear this is not just about one bad decision but about a pattern of inconsistency from KKR in how they manage player retention. That kind of instability at the top of the roster, he argued, is exactly why KKR cannot be considered favourites to win the trophy right now.

What Happened to Iyer and Salt After Leaving KKR

The story of what Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt did immediately after being released by KKR is what makes Kumble’s criticism land so heavily. Both players did not fade quietly. They thrived.

Shreyas Iyer went to Punjab Kings in the mega auction and led the side all the way to the IPL 2025 final. The same captain KKR decided they did not need came within one match of winning another IPL title with a completely different franchise. His leadership credentials were not diminished by leaving KKR. They were reinforced.

Phil Salt landed at Royal Challengers Bengaluru and became part of the title-winning side that lifted the IPL 2025 trophy. The opener KKR released ended up with a winners medal the very next season.

The contrast is stark. The two players KKR deemed surplus to requirements after winning the title went on to reach the final and win the title respectively in the very next season. Meanwhile KKR finished eighth.

How KKR Suffered in IPL 2025 Without Them

The consequences of releasing Iyer and Salt became painfully clear during IPL 2025. Under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane, KKR managed just five wins from 14 matches and finished eighth in the points table. That is a dramatic fall from grace for a franchise that had lifted their third IPL title just twelve months earlier.

Kumble acknowledged that Rahane is an experienced campaigner with domestic captaincy experience including stints with Mumbai in domestic cricket and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. However his point was pointed and precise: Rahane has never lifted the IPL title as captain and that matters. The intangible confidence and authority that comes from having already won the biggest prize in Indian franchise cricket cannot be replicated simply by appointing an experienced player to the role.

The combination of losing their title-winning captain, losing one of the most destructive openers in the format, and replacing them with a captain who has never won IPL created a leadership vacuum that directly contributed to KKR’s poor 2025 performance. Check how all ten franchises are shaping up for the new season on the IPL 2026 team squads page.

Can KKR Turn It Around in IPL 2026

KKR have history on their side in one sense. They have won the IPL title three times which places them among the most successful franchises in the competition’s history. The talent within their squad is not the issue and Rahane remains a respected figure within Indian cricket.

But Kumble’s critique raises questions that the KKR management will need to answer through results rather than words. Here is what needs to go right for KKR in IPL 2026:

• Rahane needs to find a leadership rhythm that brings the best out of his batting and bowling unit from matchday one
• The top order needs to find the kind of consistency and aggression that Salt and Iyer provided in 2024
• KKR’s bowling attack, historically one of their strengths, needs to fire consistently across the full tournament
• The franchise needs to avoid the slow starts that plagued them in IPL 2025 and cost them playoff qualification

Their IPL 2026 campaign opens on March 29 at Wankhede against Mumbai Indians, one of the most demanding opening fixtures any team could face. A strong start would immediately silence some of the pre-season criticism. A poor one will amplify every concern Kumble has raised. Track KKR’s progress and all ten teams throughout the season on the IPL 2026 live points table.

The Bigger Lesson for All IPL Franchises

What makes Kumble’s criticism particularly valuable is that it speaks to a broader truth about franchise cricket that extends well beyond KKR. Winning a title requires a very specific combination of talent, leadership, and team culture that takes years to build. Dismantling that combination immediately after winning is a gamble that rarely pays off.

The greatest IPL franchises have understood this. Mumbai Indians built a dynasty by retaining their core players across multiple seasons. Chennai Super Kings did the same around MS Dhoni for over a decade. The franchises that have struggled most are typically those that chase short-term roster optimization at the expense of long-term continuity.

KKR had a title-winning captain and a devastating opener. They chose to let both go. Anil Kumble has simply said what the results have already proven. Stay updated with every KKR match and all IPL 2026 developments at the IPL 2026 updates hub.

FAQs

Why did Anil Kumble criticise KKR ahead of IPL 2026? Kumble called out KKR’s decision to release IPL 2024 title-winning captain Shreyas Iyer and star opener Phil Salt as a wrong decision that left them without an IPL-winning captain heading into IPL 2026.

What did Shreyas Iyer do after leaving KKR? Shreyas Iyer joined Punjab Kings and led them all the way to the IPL 2025 final, proving his value as a captain immediately after being released by KKR.

What did Phil Salt achieve after leaving KKR? Phil Salt joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru and became part of the IPL 2025 title-winning squad, earning a winners medal in the season immediately after KKR released him.

How did KKR perform in IPL 2025? KKR had a poor IPL 2025 season under captain Ajinkya Rahane, finishing eighth in the points table with just five wins from 14 matches.

Who will captain KKR in IPL 2026? Ajinkya Rahane is expected to captain Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 as well, despite KKR’s disappointing IPL 2025 campaign under his leadership.

When does KKR play their first match in IPL 2026? Kolkata Knight Riders begin their IPL 2026 campaign on March 29 against Mumbai Indians at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.