IND vs AUS: In what comes as a huge setback for India, star middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer is likely to miss the upcoming three-match ODI series between India and Australia as he is down with back issues. Iyer, due to pain in his lower back, didn't even come out to bat for India on Day 4 of Ind vs Aus 4th Test in Ahmedabad. "There is a high possibility that Iyer could miss the three-match ODI series against Australia, starting March 17 in Mumbai," news agency PTI reported.
"Shreyas Iyer complained of pain in his lower back following the third day's play. He has gone for scans and the BCCI Medical Team is monitoring him," BCCI said in a medical update.
Iyer has been struggling with his lower back issue since January 2023. He was ruled out playing any match for the national team for a month and returned to Bangalore's National Cricket Academy (NCA) for rehabilitation. He missed playing IND vs AUS Test series tournament opener in Nagpur but was declared match-fit for IND vs AUS 2nd Test in Delhi and even played the third Test in Indore.
"Yes, it could be a case of the injury resurfacing after fielding for nearly 170 overs during the Australian innings. But I fail to understand why was the earlier norm of making it mandatory to play at least one domestic game wasn't made applicable for Iyer?," a former national selector told PTI.
Shreyas Iyer felt pain in his back on Saturday and hence the Indian team management asked Ravindra Jadeja to come out to bat at No. 5. On Sunday, Day 4 of Ind vs Aus 4th Test, Iyer didn't even come to the ground as he was in no position to bat.
"But you had a Irani Cup happening and you could have waited for Iyer's comeback and let him play Irani Cup in similar weather conditions and may be see how the body holds while being on the field for two days in humid conditions," the selector was quoted as saying by PTI.