Uncertainty looms over Shreyas Iyer’s fitness as he was forced to sit out the Super Fours match against Pakistan in Colombo due to back spasms during warm-up.
The BCCI stated on Tuesday that he’s “feeling better,” but sources suggest the National Cricket Academy’s medical team isn’t keen on taking risks. If his recovery doesn’t show significant progress in the coming days, he might be called back.
Shreyas Iyer is currently under remote monitoring by NCA’s head of sports science and medicine, Nitin Patel. Although trainer Rajnikanth, who oversaw Shreyas’ rehabilitation, is with the team in Colombo, there’s no clear confirmation whether his spasm is related to the previous “nerve compression” or slip disc issues, which required surgery. The NCA is taking a cautious approach with the World Cup looming just a month away.
The humid conditions in Colombo may affect Shreyas’ fitness, prompting the medical team to prioritize caution. The NCA is keeping all options open and avoiding hasty decisions.
Sanju Samson, who traveled as a cover for KL Rahul, has returned home. With Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma already among the 17 members, a replacement may not be necessary.
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Shreyas played the group matches against Pakistan and Nepal in the Asia Cup but experienced the spasm just before the Super Fours toss against Pakistan, leading to a last-minute replacement with Rahul.
Former captain and coach Anil Kumble expressed concern about Shreyas’ injury, especially with the World Cup approaching. Rahul’s form has been promising, and the Asia Cup provides an opportunity to test Varma or Surya as backups.
The selectors and team management will need to make a quick decision regarding Shreyas’ inclusion in the World Cup squad. The BCCI has until September 28 to make changes to the provisional squad.