Played one game and did not play the next game against arch-rival Pakistan in the Asia Cup Super 4 encounter. Shreyas Iyer raised quite a few eyebrows and heartbeats of billions of Indian fans when he was ruled out of the Pakistan clash due to a back spasm. The cause of injury is still not known to the public whether it is a serious one or just a precautionary one. However, Iyer’s absence has put a question mark on National Cricket Academy (NCA).
With less than one month left for the ODI World Cup 2023, Iyer’s lack of game time is making head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma anxious, to say the least. To note, there were speculations that Iyer may not be fit for the Asia Cup. But he put those doubts to bed by slamming 199 in the practice match at NCA. Iyer played the first match against Pakistan and batted nine deliveries for 14 runs. He did not get to bat against Nepal.
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With Dravid and Rohit Sharma identifying Iyer as the number 4 batter in ODIs for the World Cup, his fitness is paramount leading to the showpiece event. However, a back spasm has put a question mark at NCA regarding Iyer’s fitness.
Shreyas Iyer: India wait anxiously over Iyer’s fitness as the countdown to ODI World Cup begins
If not Iyer, then India are back to square one ahead of the World Cup. Number 4 conundrum is back, and India does not have full foolproof solution. Suryakumar Yadav has failed to crack the code in ODIs, averaging a modest 24. Ishan Kishan played superbly at number five against Pakistan in the group stage of the Asia Cup.
Rahul is back in the team, but his preferred slot is number five. However, if Iyer does not recover from a back spasm, then India might consider pushing Rahul to number 4, with Kishan batting at 5.
Shreyas Iyer Injury Update
- In March, Iyer complained of back pain after Day 3’s of the fourth test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. From the initial review, Iyer has a recurrence of his back injury that kept him out of the first test.
- He underwent back surgery in London in April and missed the entire IPL 2023.
- Iyer missed the World Test Championship 2023 Final against Australia in June.
- Iyer missed the India tour of the West Indies 2023.
- In July, BCCI issued a statement stating Iyer’s is still under rehab at NCA and the date of his comeback is August.
- Iyer missed the IND vs IRE T20 series in August.
- After passing the fitness test, Iyer was picked for Asia Cup 2023 squad.
- But after playing just two games, Iyer has suffered an injury again.
- He is out of IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 clash with back spasm.
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