Former India player turned commentator Sunil Gavaskar feels that Shreyas Iyer will be fired up for his return to Kolkata on Saturday, April 26, during the KKR vs PBKS match. Shreyas was the captain of the KKR that won the title last season, but they decided not to retain him ahead of the mega auction as well. While KKR did bid for him during the auction, PBKS sealed the deal for Rs. 26.75 crores. Under him, PBKS defended 111 runs in Mullanpur.

Speaking to the broadcasters, Gavaskar said, “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. Now he’s got, 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.”

ALSO READ: “In the next T20 World Cup in India, he’ll be number one bowler” – Mohammad Kaif on Varun Chakravarthy

Meanwhile, Michael Clarke also feels that KKR won’t be affected by the previous loss to PBKS in Mullanpur earlier this season and expects the match on Saturday to be a good one as well. Clarke feels that KKR is a team like Mumbai, which can get on a roll if they can get a few wins under its belt as well.

“No, I don’t think they will. I think that game will be left in the memory for KKR and they won’t want to talk about it ever again, but I think it’s gonna be a beauty. Let’s see what sort of pitch we get. I think both teams really need to win. KKR is underperforming with their team. They’ve got enough senior players, they’ve got enough experience. They’re just a little bit like SRH. Those two this season haven’t been great, and they still have a chance they can turn things around. I think KKR’s one of those teams like Mumbai. If they get a roll on, they’re so destructive,” said Clarke.