Shreyas Iyer ruled out of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1st Test; star player likely to make his debut

India star batter Shreyas Iyer will not play in the first Test match against Australia, which will begin on February 9 in Nagpur. Given that the player hasn’t fully healed from his back ailment, Iyer is likely to be fit by the second Test onward.

Due to a back ailment, the Mumbai middle-order batter had to withdraw from the three-match ODI series against New Zealand and was instructed to travel to Bengaluru’s National Cricket Academy (NCA) for rehabilitation. According to information obtained, Iyer continues to experience lower back pain despite receiving injections, and the NCA has urged the middle-order batsman to take at least two weeks off.

Iyer is likely to receive treatment at NCA rather than reporting to the Indian team’s camp in Nagpur before the first Test match beginning on February 2.

Ravindra Jadeja to join Team India after recovering from injury

“His injury hasn’t healed as expected and he will take two weeks at least to play cricket again. He will certainly not be available for the first Test and his availability for the second Test will be subject to his fitness report,” stated an Indian Cricket Board source.

A 16-member Indian Test squad has been chosen by the Indian Cricket Board selection committee for the Test match series against Australia. It is unclear if a replacement will be chosen by the national selection committee, which is led by Chetan Sharma, or if a 15-person team would be used for the first Test at home. Iyer’s injury was disclosed by Board secretary Jay Shah in a statement a few weeks prior.

“Team India batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the upcoming 3-match ODI series against New Zealand due to a back injury. He will be heading to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for further assessment and management,” Jay Shah asserted in a statement. Iyer’s absence could provide Suryakumar Yadav with the opportunity to play his first Test match.

Ravindra Jadeja will also join the Indian team camp, which will begin on February 2 in Nagpur. The Indian squad members have been requested to report on February 2 in the morning. After playing in a Ranji Trophy match for his home team Saurashtra against Tamil Nadu last week in Chennai, Jadeja received a match fitness clearance. Saurashtra advanced to the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals thanks to a match-winning seven-wicket haul from Jadeja, who bowled 41.1 overs.