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India middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has been advised a ten-day rest and a call on his availability for the upcoming IPL 2023 will be taken later on.
Iyer was recently ruled out of the fourth Test against Australia at Ahmedabad due to a recurrence of his back injury.
As per a report on Friday, Iyer will take a 10-day rest and has to wait to know his true condition after seeing spine specialist Dr Abhay Nene. It has been learnt that although the tests done on him are not encouraging, Iyer has still not been officially ruled out of the IPL.
“The results of the initial scans were found to be bad and he was straightaway withdrawn from participating further in the Ahmedabad Test. After returning to his hometown, Mumbai, Iyer consulted specialist Abhay Nene, an expert with Bombay and Lilavati hospitals in the city, who treats spine complications,” said the report.
“Nene is believed to have advised Iyer to undergo the normal procedure that is advised in such situations – rest and rehab. He was told to come back after 10 days and Iyer may know in the next few days about his immediate and long-term future,” added the report.
On day four’s play in the Ahmedabad Test on Sunday, Iyer did not come out to bat which surprised many. The Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) later released a statement saying that Iyer complained of pain in his lower back following the third day’s play and has been taken for scans with the medical team monitoring him.
Just before the start of day five’s play on Monday, the BCCI said in a statement, “Shreyas Iyer will take no further part in this Test. A specialist opinion will be sought.”
India’s fielding coach T Dilip on Thursday ahead of the first ODI against Australia confirmed that Iyer won’t be available for the three-match ODI series.
28-year-old Iyer is the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team in the IPL. The report added that Kolkata Knight Riders are preparing for Iyer’s replacement in case the batter is not available for the competition though they have not yet named a replacement skipper.
“The squad is expected to assemble in Kolkata in the next couple of days and a decision on the new captain, if need be, will be made after full clarity on Iyer,” the report added. The IPL 2023 commences on March 31, while KKR are scheduled to play their first match of the tournament on April 1 against the Punjab Kings in Mohali.
Despite some speculations that Sunil Narine might be in consideration for the captaincy role after leading the Knight Riders in the recently concluded ILT20 in UAE, it has been understood that the franchise is looking for another candidate.
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