The Asia Cup has been marred by an unfortunate setback for Shreyas Iyer, as his lingering back injury is expected to keep him sidelined for the upcoming Super 4 game against Sri Lanka. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), along with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) staff and the team management in Colombo, is closely monitoring his condition. Sources indicate that Iyer will not be available for selection in the second Super 4 match.
In a public announcement on Twitter, BCCI informed, “UPDATE – Shreyas Iyer is feeling better but is yet to fully recover from back spasm. He has been adviced rest by the BCCI Medical Team and has not travelled with the team to the stadium today for India’s Super 4 match against Sri Lanka.”
Iyer’s long term back problems
Iyer’s back trouble emerged on the first day of India’s two-day game against Pakistan when he experienced a back spasm during the warm-up session. The issue was detected during this crucial pre-match preparation, leading to his exclusion from the playing XI. KL Rahul replaced him at the last minute and delivered an outstanding performance against Pakistan.
Captain Rohit Sharma, speaking about the sudden change in the lineup, mentioned that KL Rahul’s inclusion was decided just five minutes before the toss. Rahul’s remarkable comeback innings underlines his remarkable mindset and adaptability as a player.
No plan to send back
Despite the setback, there are no immediate plans to send Shreyas Iyer back, and it is expected that he will become available for selection in the later games of the Asia Cup. While there have been discussions about potentially resting some players due to the tight schedule, Iyer is not among the likely candidates for such a move. Indications suggest that the team management may stick with the same XI that played against Pakistan. As Iyer battles injury, team India will play with KL Rahul at Number 4, who, batting at that position against Pakistan, absolutely decimated them.
KL Rahul, reflecting on his comeback innings, revealed his initial nervousness after a long hiatus from international cricket. However, he quickly found his rhythm after facing the first few balls, eventually scoring an unbeaten 111. Rahul’s remarkable performance adds depth and versatility to India’s batting lineup, even in the absence of Shreyas Iyer.
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
