Shreyas Iyer might not play in the ODI series against Australia that is coming up. The middle-order batter, who was unable to participate in India’s first innings at the Narendera Modi Stadium in Motera on Sunday, could miss the white-ball games due to severe and recurring back pain. The three-match ODI series follows the ongoing fourth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with the first ODI scheduled for March 17 in his hometown of Mumbai.
Following the completion of additional tests, his participation in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) will be considered. For the record, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stated on Day 4 of the Motera Test that Iyer is being monitored by the medical team.
It has also been revealed that the agony for Iyer (29) began on Saturday evening, when he went for a knock after stumps on Day 3. During the knock, he was bothered and complained of pain. The back spasms were so severe, according to sources, that he couldn’t have batted on Sunday even if the situation demanded it.
To be more specific, Iyer was not in the locker room on the fourth day of play. He was with the medical team, getting his scans. His back pain has been a recurring issue, keeping him out of the first Test in Nagpur as well as the previous ODI series against New Zealand.
The Indian team management was relieved that Iyer was not required to bat, owing primarily to Virat Kohli and Axar Patel’s 162-run seventh-wicket stand. India finished with a comfortable 91-run lead and appear to be in an unassailable position in the Test.
