IND vs SL Asia Cup 2023: Why is Shreyas Iyer not playing today?

Shreyas Iyer will not participate in the Asia Cup Super 4 game against Sri Lanka. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), along with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) staff and the team management in Colombo, are closely monitoring his condition.

Why is Shreyas Iyer not playing IND vs SL Asia Cup 2023 match?

Shreyas Iyer‘s absence from the India vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup game is due to a back injury, and his availability for future matches will depend on his recovery and fitness assessment. The setback occurred during warm-up on the first day of the team’s two-day game against Pakistan when Iyer experienced a back spasm.

“Shreyas Iyer is feeling better but is yet to fully recover from back spasm. He has been adviced rest by the BCCI Medical Team and has not travelled with the team to the stadium today for India’s Super 4 match against Sri Lanka,” confirmed BCCI.

UPDATE – Shreyas Iyer is feeling better but is yet to fully recover from back spasm. He has been adviced rest by the BCCI Medical Team and has not travelled with the team to the stadium today for India’s Super 4 match against Sri Lanka.#AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/q6yyRbVchj

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 12, 2023

Skipper Rohit Sharma revealed that the issue was detected during the warm-up session, leading to Iyer being left out of the playing XI. KL Rahul was drafted into the squad at the last minute, just five minutes before the toss, in place of Iyer.

Rohit Sharma praised Rahul’s performance, emphasizing the player’s mindset and adaptability. It is expected that Iyer might become available for selection in the later games of the Asia Cup, and there is currently no plan to send him back.

Although there have been suggestions of resting some players due to the tight schedule with back-to-back games, Iyer is not among those under consideration for replacement. Indications suggest that the team management may opt for the same playing XI that competed against Pakistan.

KL Rahul, reflecting on his comeback innings, admitted to initial nervousness but credited his ability to calm himself down and regain his rhythm after a few balls. He went on to score an unbeaten 111, showcasing his batting prowess in his first international match after a long hiatus.