• Sportzyverse
• Cricket news, IPL 2024
• 03/14/2024
• 0 Comments

India’s cricketing star, Shreyas Iyer, has been the center of attention both on and off the field in recent weeks. His unexpected omission from the Indian team after the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam, coupled with his removal from the BCCI central contracts list, has raised eyebrows within the cricketing community.

Iyer initially complained of back pain after the second Test against England, but the National Cricket Academy (NCA) deemed him fit to play. Despite this, he dropped himself from the central contracts list and subsequently joined Mumbai’s squad for the Ranji Trophy, per the BCCI’s guidelines on player participation.

However, reports from the Times of India suggest that Iyer’s back issues have resurfaced, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming season with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). This development begs the question: was Iyer pressured into returning to competitive action prematurely by participating in the Ranji Trophy?

During the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha at the Wankhede Stadium, Iyer showcased his talent with a remarkable 95-run innings in the second innings. However, the joy was short-lived as he experienced back spasms, requiring treatment from the Mumbai physiotherapist twice during his innings.

On the fourth day of the final, Iyer could not take the field at all due to the severity of his back issues. Reports suggest that he underwent a scan at a hospital, indicating the seriousness of his injury and raising concerns about his participation in future matches, including the IPL.

Shreyas Iyer’s back issues resurface, doubts emerge over NCA’s assessment

According to sources cited by the Times of India, Iyer had previously informed the Indian team management about his recurring back problems during the series against England. This suggests that his current injury setback may have been anticipated, raising questions about the decision to include him in the Ranji Trophy squad.

Iyer’s battle with back injuries is not new. He missed the entire IPL season last year due to a back injury and underwent surgery in April. Subsequently, he was ruled out of India’s final in the World Test Championship against Australia. After months of rehabilitation, Iyer returned to the national team during the Asia Cup and played a crucial role in the 2023 World Cup, emerging as India’s third-highest run-scorer with 530 runs in 11 matches.

As concerns mount over his fitness, Iyer’s situation highlights the delicate balance between player welfare and competitive pressures in professional cricket. Fans and stakeholders alike will closely monitor the management of his injury and his future participation in the IPL.