Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer is facing a challenging road ahead as he grapples with a stiff back, potentially ruling him out of the last three Tests against England. The Indian Express reported on Friday (February 9) that Iyer’s discomfort has prompted concerns about his availability for the upcoming matches scheduled to be held in Rajkot (February 15-19), Ranchi (February 23-27), and Dharamsala (March 7-11).
According to sources, Iyer complained of stiffness in his back and pain in the groin area, particularly while executing a forward defence during practice sessions. The 27-year-old is set to undergo further examination at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore to assess the extent of his injury.
Expected to make a comeback next month during the Indian Premier League (IPL), Iyer has conveyed his discomfort to the Indian team management and medical staff. Sources revealed that the batsman experiences stiffness in his back after facing more than 30 deliveries, leading to concerns about his fitness for the upcoming Tests.
“Iyer communicated to the Indian team management and medical staff that his back became stiff after facing more than 30 balls. Additionally, he experiences pain in his groin while executing a forward defence. Post-surgery, the medical advice is for him to take a few weeks of rest due to this new development. Subsequently, he will proceed to the National Cricket Academy (NCA),” a source stated to The Indian Express.
Further complicating matters, concerns arose regarding Iyer’s participation in the third Test as his playing kits were mistakenly sent to his Mumbai residence instead of being directly dispatched to the venue in Rajkot, alongside the rest of the squad’s equipment.
With the BCCI set to announce India’s squad for the final three Tests, KL Rahul is reportedly fit and available for selection, potentially stepping in for Iyer, who occupied the No. 4 position in the second Test.
Meanwhile, there is no official update on the availability of former Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who missed the first two Tests due to personal reasons. However, it is likely that Kohli will remain unavailable for the remaining fixtures. The absence of both Iyer and Kohli would pose a significant challenge for the Indian team in the upcoming Test series against England, heightening anticipation for the squad announcement.