In another massive blow for India, Shreyas Iyer is likely to miss the remainder of the Test series against England due to injury.
As per a report by the Indian Express, India's middle-order batter is facing troubles while playing forward defense due to stiffness in the back and pain in the groin area.
“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 leading news daily. “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.”
While the kits of players were sent to Rajkot where the third Test will be played starting February 15, Iyer’s kit was sent to Mumbai.
The selection conundrum
Meanwhile, the selection committee is yet to announce India's squad for the last three Tests. The squad will assemble in Rajkot on February 11.
There is still a doubt over whether Virat Kohli pulled out of the first two Tests will be available for the Rajkot Test.
In addition, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja are at the National Cricket Academy, Bengaluru recovering from injuries sustained in the Hyderabad Test which India lost by 28 runs.
Iyer was struggling for form
Iyer has not been in the best of forms of late. The 29-year-old has scored 104 runs from four innings in the Test series so far. His last half-century in Test cricket came in December 2022 against Bangladesh.
Who can replace Iyer?
If Kohli and Rahul return to the squad for the third Test, skipper Rohit Sharma won’t have a headache. However, if only one of them is available for the next Test, either Rajat Patidar will get another chance in the middle order or Sarfaraz Khan will make his Test debut. If both Kohli and Rahul are unavailable, Sarfaraz is highly likely to make his Test debut.
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