Feeling bad after selling a stock too early? Even Shah Rukh Khan let go of his 'multibagger' Shreyas Iyer, quips fund manager

In the world of cricket, as in investing, timing, vision, and faith in fundamentals often determine success or failure. Gurmeet Chadha, fund manager and CIO at Compcircle, drew a striking parallel between portfolio management and a major IPL decision that went wrong for one of India’s most iconic franchises.

Chadha joked that if you’re ever feeling low about a bad investment, remember that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), owned by Shah Rukh Khan, chose to retain Venkatesh Iyer over Shreyas Iyer — a decision that now serves as a cautionary tale not just for team managers but also for anyone dealing with high-stakes decisions. Shreyas Iyer — the star KKR let go — is now on the brink of making history with Punjab Kings.

"If you ever feel low on a bad decision made in your portfolio…. Remember - SRK and KKR management retained Ventakesh Iyer instead of Shreyas Iyer," fund manager Gurmeet Chadha said in a tweet.

If u ever feel low on a bad decision made in your portfolio….

Remember - SRK and KKR management retained Ventakesh Iyer instead of Shreyas Iyer.

— Gurmeet Chadha (@connectgurmeet) June 2, 2025

Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR to their IPL title win in 2024, was surprisingly not retained ahead of the IPL 2025 season. Instead, KKR spent a whopping Rs 23.75 crore to bring back all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer in the mega auction held in Jeddah last year. The move raised eyebrows across cricketing circles. Meanwhile, Shreyas was snapped up by Punjab Kings for Rs 26.75 crore and was named captain. Under his leadership, Punjab turned into a dominant force and are now set to contest the IPL 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Punjab Kings, known historically for underachievement and inconsistency, have seen a stunning transformation this season. Shreyas has led from the front with his batting and captaincy. With 603 runs from 16 matches at an average of 54.81 and a strike rate of nearly 176, he’s been a match-winner game after game. His latest performance — an unbeaten 87 off 41 balls in the second qualifier against Mumbai Indians — was a clutch innings that propelled Punjab into their first IPL final in over a decade. It was also a painful reminder to KKR fans of what they lost.

What netizens said
The backlash on social media was fierce and immediate. Fans criticized the KKR management for releasing a proven match-winner and leader, especially after he delivered them a title the previous year. Responding to Gurmeet Chadha's tweet, netizens responded with scathing sarcasm, memes, and humorous financial analogies. Some compared KKR’s decision to misallocating capital in a mutual fund, while others joked about "reinvestment gone wrong" and “confusion in the Iyer name.” One popular sentiment was that Punjab Kings should hold on to Shreyas for life, lest they too repeat the mistakes of KKR.

Preity Zinta, the co-owner of Punjab Kings, has been a constant figure of support for throughout the tournament. Ahead of the final in Ahmedabad, she shared a heartfelt video montage on social media, highlighting the journey of the team, its standout players, and the contribution of coach Ricky Ponting. Zinta praised Shreyas for his leadership, calling him a "dynamic sarpanch," and emphasized how the team had gelled together to peak at the right time.