Shreyash Iyer complains of back pain but NCA says he is ‘fit’ : Reports

The middle-order batter for India, Shreyas Iyer decided to skip the prestigious Ranji Trophy. The 29-year-old batter from Mumbai made himself unavailable for the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals due to back spasms, but controversy arose when NCA (National Cricket Academy) said Shreyash had no fresh injuries, according to Indian Express reports.

Mumbai will play their quarterfinal match against Baroda on Friday, February 23. Nitin Patel, the head of sports science and medicine at the NCA (National Cricket Academy) said to the Indian men’s selection committee that Shreyash is fit, but as per the Mumbai Cricket Association, the talented middle-order batter had stiff back issues.

Nitin Patel wrote Iyer is ‘fit’ in his email: Reports

“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,” Patel mentioned in his email.

Shreyas Iyer has not been in good form in recent times. He scored 35, 13, 27 and 29 in the first two Tests against England. He was unable not convert his starts into a big score. Iyer has been dropped due to his poor form. Indian Cricket Board warned young cricketers of India that they should play Ranji Trophy if they are fit, otherwise their IPL participation will be in danger.

Earlier, the wicket-keeper batter of India, Ishan Kishan made himself out for the South Africa series. Later, he said he would not play Ranji trophy also due to personal reasons. Indian Cricket Board secretary Jay Shah was not at all happy with this mindset of young cricketers in the country to red ball cricket. Previously he warned Ishan Kishan about this, but later Jay Shah admitted that his warning was not for Ishan Kishan.

“All contracted players have been told on the phone and I’ll be writing to them too. If the chairman of selectors, coach & captain wants you to play red-ball cricket then you gotta play. ‘Nakhre Nahi Chalenge‘ (no tantrums). And as far as Ishan Kishan is concerned, he is young, I am not saying this specifically about him as it will be applicable for all the players uniformly,” Jay Shah recently said in a media conference.

“Everyone will have to play, otherwise, the chairman of the selection committee has given me his suggestions and I am going to give him a free hand to let him take his own calls freely,” he further added.

India will play their next test in Ranchi on February 23. Currently, India led the five-match Test series by 2-1.