Shreyas Iyer has reportedly written to the BCCI requesting for a break from red-ball engagements in order to regain fitness to compete in multi-day matches. The development emerged after the middle-order batter left the India A camp ahead of the second unofficial Test against Australia A, currently underway in Lucknow.
Iyer was the captain in the first encounter, which ended in a draw. He had then scored 8(13) before being trapped LBW by spinner Corey Rocchiccioli, who eventually finished with three wickets.
As per reports, Iyer made the request after the match and also spoke with chief selector Ajit Agarkar. It is being reported that Iyer felt the discomfort playing for the West Zone during the Duleep Trophy earlier this month. He felt the same during the first unofficial Test last week. And right after the match, Iyer got in touch with the BCCI physios and India A coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar, following which he wrote to the cricket board before leaving for Mumbai.
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Iyer had underwent a back surgery in 2023 after playing the ODI World Cup at home in 2023. The good news is he isn't contemplating retirement from red-ball cricket. Iyer has played 14 Tests so far and featured in 70 first-class games.
"He is only seeking a break. After working on his fitness, he will reset his red-ball career and come back stronger," a report in Cricbuzz quoted a source as saying.
The latest setback may force Iyer to skip the Ranji Trophy this season. Iyer, however, has made himself available for limited-overs matches and should most likely be part of the squad which travels to Australia for a full-fledged white-ball series, featuring three ODIs and five T20Is between October 19 and November 8.
In an interview to GQ India earlier this month, Iyer had opened up about the back injury, which "paralysed" one of his legs. During the conversation, Iyer detailed the experience and lamented the fact of how fans treat "athletes as robots".
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