There are indications that Iyer has expressed discomfort in his back and mentioned experiencing pain in his groin while attempting forward defensive shots.
Shreyas Iyer, the middle-order batsman for India, has received the green light for potential inclusion in the remaining three Tests against England. Despite being declared fit, there’s a looming possibility of him being left out of the Test squad due to a string of low scores in the ongoing series.
In the five-match Test series against the team led by Ben Stokes, Shreyas has struggled to convert his starts into substantial scores, failing to cross the fifty-run mark. His red-ball performance has been underwhelming, managing only 104 runs at an average of 26, with a highest score of 35.
As KL Rahul inches closer to returning for the third Test after missing the second due to a quad niggle, selectors are faced with a decision between Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar. The selection committee is yet to finalize the squad for the remaining three matches.
Following the second Test in Visakhapatnam, Shreyas Iyer informed the team management about experiencing back spasms. Despite his discomfort, the BCCI medical staff has cleared him for selection.
In April last year, Iyer underwent back surgery for a slipped disc. He made a comeback during the Asia Cup but was sidelined due to recurring back spasms after just two matches. However, he made significant contributions during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 held in India.
The Mumbai batsman hasn’t been in the best form lately in red-ball cricket. In his last eight innings in Test matches, Iyer has managed only 145 runs with an average of 20.71. Holding onto his spot in the playing XI would have been challenging, especially with KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja likely to make a comeback from their injuries before the third Test. The team selection discussion for the upcoming Test might not be as tense as it could have been, given these circumstances.
In the second Test against England held in Visakhapatnam, Shreyas Iyer played a crucial role, contributing 29 runs from 52 balls to India’s total of 255 in the second innings. Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, the Indian team secured a convincing 106-run victory, leveling the ongoing five-match series at 1-1.
Looking ahead, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is anticipated to reveal the squad for the final three Tests on Friday, February 9. The current state of the series stands at 1-1, making it a closely contested battle. The third Test is scheduled to kick off on February 15 in Rajkot.
