Shreyas Iyer is Fit, NCA Confirms Day After KKR Captain Opts Out of Ranji Trophy Due to Back Pain

Mumbai: With it being the year of the T20 World Cup, most cricketers seem to be laying more emphasis on the shorter format of the game despite the BCCI asking cricketers to give domestic cricket importance. After Ishan Kishan’s absence from the Ranji, it seems Shreyas Iyer is also taking that route. Iyer, who was part of the Test series against England, opted out of the Rajkot Test after he complained of back stiffness. He missed the Rajkot game as he was sent to the NCA to get proper treatment.

Yesterday, Iyer opted out of playing Ranji Trophy, claiming that he is not fully fit. But now, Nitin Patel, the head of sports science at the National Cricket Academy, in an email to selectors, confirmed that Shreyas Iyer did not report any ‘fresh injury’ and he was ‘fit’.

“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 wrote in his email.

The BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah in a letter to the players who are missing Ranji, wrote: “However, there is a trend that has started to emerge and is a cause for concern. Some players have begun prioritising the IPL over domestic cricket, a shift that was not anticipated. Domestic cricket has always been the foundation upon which Indian cricket stands, and it has never been undervalued in our vision for the sport.”