Shreyas Iyer Likely to MISS Tests against England due to Back Injury – Report

Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer is set to miss the final three Tests against England due to injury concerns. He has complained of stiffness in his back and groin area. These issues are raising doubts about his availability for the remaining matches of the series.

Iyer’s back pain resurfaced during the 4th Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and subsequently underwent surgery last year. He missed significant cricketing events including the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia.

Despite the surgery, the right-handed batter missed the Asia Cup 2023 match against Pakistan. KL Rahul replaced him in the playing XI during the match against arch-rivals in Sri Lanka. His persistent back troubles would frustrate him and the Indian team.

Shreyas Iyer Will Join Other Players in National Cricket Academy: Report

As per the report from the Indian Express, Shreyas Iyer felt discomfort while playing forward defensive shots. The report further stated that the middle-order batter would be sent to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to undergo further tests.

“Iyer has informed the Indian team management and the medical staff that his back gets stiff after playing more than 30 balls and he feels pain in his groin while playing forward defence. Post surgery, he is facing this issue for the first time so he has been advised to rest for a few weeks. He will head to NCA later,” a source from Indian Express.

IND vs AUS: Shreyas Iyer Wants To Bowl for India, Reveals Physio’s Warning After Back Surgery

The Ajit Agarkar leading selection committee will convene on Friday to discuss the team lineup for upcoming Test matches, focusing on Shreyas Iyer’s situation. The selection committee will make the final call after an assessment of Iyer’s condition at the NCA in Bengaluru.

Selection Committee Await Clarity on Virat Kohli’s Availability

The 29-year-old batter’s recent performance in red-ball cricket for India has been disappointing, raising concerns about his position in the Test team. He scored a total of 104 runs in the ongoing Test vs England, at a disappointing average of 26.

If KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja return for the third Test, Iyer might be dropped even if he is fit. Rajat Patidar, who was deputed in the second Test, could be given another chance in the playing XI. Rahul and Jadeja’s presence will boost the Indian team in the crucial test match.

Virat Kohli’s potential return for the remaining 3 Tests of the series remains uncertain following his withdrawal due to personal reasons. The Indian cricket team has yet to finalize the squad as the selectors await clarity on Kohli’s availability for the last two matches.

India secured a 106-run win over England in the second Test at Dr Y.S Rajasekhar Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, levelling the series 1-1. The home team rebounded after a defeat in the first Test, where they lost by 28 runs despite a 190-run first-inning lead.

The third Test between India and England will be played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on February 15.