KKR Captain Shreyas Iyer Recreates Messi's Iconic Celebration In IPL 2024 Triumph

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinched their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title on Sunday, May 26, by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets. The victory marked the end of a decade-long trophy drought for KKR, with captain Shreyas Iyer celebrating in a style reminiscent of Lionel Messi.

KKR's dominant performance saw them outplay SRH comprehensively. After being sent to bowl by SRH captain Pat Cummins, KKR bowled out the Orange Army for just 113 runs, the lowest total in IPL final history. The KKR batters then chased down the target with 57 balls to spare, securing a decisive win.

Shreyas Iyer's leadership was instrumental throughout the tournament, and his joy was evident after the victory. As he joined his teammates on the podium, Iyer's celebration drew comparisons to Lionel Messi's World Cup 2022 triumph with Argentina.

Shreyas Iyer approached the podium from the left side with the trophy in hand. He performed a step-dance towards his teammates, who watched in anticipation. After a few steps, Iyer hoisted the trophy with his teammates, mirroring Messi's celebration in Qatar.

The celebration appeared pre-planned and closely resembled Messi's iconic moment. Fans quickly noticed the similarity and interpreted it as a tribute to the Argentine legend. KKR also updated their X profile cover photo to feature a snapshot of this celebration.

Shreyas Iyer gave tribute to Lionel Messi by recreating the World Cup trophy lifting celebration ????#ShahRukhKhan#KKRvsSRHFinal#IPL2024pic.twitter.com/dySMblhDya

Aamir Khan ???? (@AAMIRSRK45)May 26, 2024

While it remains unclear if Shreyas intended to emulate Messi, the similarities were striking. The celebration was a fitting end to KKR's triumphant campaign, capturing the joy and unity of the team.