Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer faces uncertainty over his participation in the remaining three Test matches against England.
According to Indian Express, Iyer has complained of stiffness in his back and groin pain while playing forward defence, casting doubts on his availability for the upcoming matches.
Notably, his cricketing gear was sent home instead of being flown directly to the venue for the third Test in Rajkot, indicating the severity of his condition.
Sources suggest that Iyer will undergo further tests at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore, aiming for a return to competitive cricket before the Indian Premier League (IPL) commences next month. Having previously undergone surgery for a back injury, Iyer's current setback raises concerns about his fitness.
“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,” a source told The Indian Express.
“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.”
Is injury the real reason for Shreyas Iyer's absence or could there be a different cause?
However, there is speculation over the reason why Iyer may be dropped from the Tests against England. Some sections of the media are speculating that poor performance may lead to him missing the last three Test matches.
How has Shreyas Iyer performed in the ongoing Test series against England?
Iyer has had a nightmare of an outing so far in the ongoing Test series against England. With Virat Kohli out for the first two Tests, Iyer was considered as his replacement into the team. However, the 29-year-old failed to live upto the billing.
Iyer scored 104 runs across four innings and has a highest score of 35.
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 | 104 | 26.00 | 50.73 | - | 35 |
When will India's squad for the remaining three Tests be announced?
The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, is expected to announce the squad for the remainder of the series soon. If Iyer is ruled out, the committee will need to consider a replacement, with players like KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja likely to return from injury for the Rajkot Test.
Meanwhile, the availability of former captain Virat Kohli for the last two Tests remains uncertain, as he withdrew from the ongoing series citing personal reasons.
The Indian team, currently on a short break, is scheduled to reconvene in Rajkot for training ahead of the next Test match on February 15.