After opting out of Ranji Trophy due to back pain, NCA says Shreyas Iyer is fit: Report

Shreyas Iyer Opts Out of Ranji Trophy Quarterfinal due to Back Pain

New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer has opted out of Mumbai’s upcoming Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Baroda due to back pain. However, a report in The Indian Express states that the head of sports science and medicine at the National Cricket Academy confirmed that Iyer has ‘no fresh injury’ and that he is ‘fit’.

Nitin Patel, the head of sports science and medicine at the NCA, wrote in an email to selectors, “Shreyas Iyer was fit and available for selection as per the handover report of the Indian team after the 2nd Test match against England. There are currently no fresh injuries reported as well after his departure from Team India.”

Iyer’s performance in the first two Tests against England was not up to par, and he hasn’t made a significant mark in his last seven Test matches. However, he had made 48 in Mumbai’s ten-wicket win over Andhra in the Ranji Trophy as preparation for the England Test series.

The confusion around Iyer’s status comes amidst warnings from the BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah, regarding players prioritizing IPL over domestic cricket. Shah emphasized the importance of domestic cricket as the backbone of Indian cricket and a critical yardstick for selection into the national team.

The report also mentions that Iyer had complained of back spasms after the second Test in Visakhapatnam, and the national selectors had advised him to play in the Ranji Trophy to get his back used to the strain of batting and being on the field for an extended period of time.

Shreyas Iyer’s decision to opt out of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal has raised questions about the importance of domestic cricket and the commitment of centrally-contracted and India ‘A’ cricketers to it. With concerns about players prioritizing the IPL over domestic cricket, the issue has become a cause for concern in the Indian cricketing community.

–IANS
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