Team India batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 clash due to a back spasm. After being asked to bat first, Indian skipper revealed about Iyer’s injury and confirmed KL Rahul as his replacement. Notably, the right-handed batter had only returned to the squad after a long injury break and had played in both of India’s group-stage encounters of the competition.
However, many fans smelled something fishy and questioned if the injury to Shreyas Iyer was real or made up to include KL Rahul in the playing XI.
Few Indian cricket fans also expressed their frustration with Shreyas Iyer’s consistent fitness issues and reacted on Twitter.
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However, it was later revealed that Shreyas Iyer was initially part of Team India’s playing XI but was replaced just before the toss after he complained of back spasm during the pre-match warmups.
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 got ruled out of IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 clash with back spasm.
Meanwhile, it is KL Rahul first match since May. The Indian batter was ruled out of IPL Playoffs after sustaining a hamstring injury and underwent a surgery in London.
KL Rahul Injury Timeline
- November 2021 – Thigh Strain: KL Rahul was ruled out of the two-match Test series against New Zealand in November due to a left thigh strain.
- February 2021 – Hamstring: KL Rahul missed the T20 series against West Indies after suffering a left hamstring injury.
- February 2021 – Hamstring: He failed to recover in time and missed the T20 against Sri Lanka.
- March 2021 – Hamstring: The hamstring injury also ruled him out of the Test series against Sri Lanka.
- January 2021 – Wrist: KL Rahul missed the Test series in Australia after suffering a wrist injury during practice.
- June 2022 – Groin: KL Rahul missed the South Africa series and England tour with a persistent groin injury.
- May 2023 – Thigh: Rahul missed IPL 2023, World Test Championship Final 2023 and India tour of West Indies after suffering an injury on May 1.
- July 2023: On track to recovery, starts batting and keeping practice at the NCA.
- August 2023: KL Rahul faces a setback in recovery and fails a fitness test. His setback is termed as niggle. But he makes it to the Asia Cup 2023 squad. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar claims he is doubtful for the first two games of Asia Cup.
- September 2023: Returns to Team India XI for IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 clash.
Team India Playing XI
R Sharma (C), S Gill, V Kohli, KL Rahul, I Kishan (WK), R Jadeja, H Pandya, S Thakur, M Siraj, J Bumrah, K Yadav.
