India’s middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer will not appear in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy quarter-final match against Baroda, starting on February 23, due to back spasms, TOI reported.
According to the report, Iyer was left out of India’s squad for the last three Test against England on a “precautionary basis” owing to a back niggle that he complained about.
The right-hander registered scores of 35, 13, 27 and 29 in the first two Tests against England in Hyderabad and Vizag.
When the Mumbai selectors announced the 16-member squad for the Ranji fixture against Baroda on Tuesday (February 20), Iyer's name didn’t feature in the list. He also missed out on Mumbai's last Ranji clash against Assam as his back was giving him trouble.
"He has told Mumbai's team management that he is unfit. He had told the Indian team management and the selectors that he got a back ache after batting for 30-40 minutes. He needs some to recover from it," TOI quoted a BCCI source as saying.
The recurring back injury had kept Shreyas Iyer out of competitive action for a considerable period last year. He underwent a back surgery in April 2023 and came back into the Indian team during the Asia Cup.
Last week, BCCI secretary Jay Shah issued a warning to India’s top cricketers - centrally contracted as well as India ‘A’, over their mandatory participation in domestic red-ball tournaments.
However, in case of Shreyas, it is more about a niggle troubling the cricketer than his decision to not turn up for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy.
Meanwhile, all-rounder Shivam Dube has been ruled out of Mumbai's last eight clash versus Baroda due to a “bilateral side strain injury.” His participation in the remainder of the tournament is also in danger.
Dube has been replaced in the Mumbai squad by talented all-rounder Musheer Khan, who impressed one and all with his exploits in the recently U-19 World Cup in South Africa.
Mumbai Squad: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Prithvi Shaw, Bhupen Lalwani, Amogh Bhatkal, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Prasad Pawar (WK),Hardik Tamore (WK), Shardul Thakur, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Aditya Dhumal, Tushar Deshpande, Mohit Awasthi, Dhawal Kulkarni, Roystan Dias.
