The Indian Cricket Team has been dealt a major blow as star batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the 3-match ODI series starting on 18 January 2023 due to a back injury.

Shreyas Iyer will now go to National Cricket Academy in Bangalore for further rehabilitation. He was the leading run-getter in ODI cricket in 2022. During the recently concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka, Shreyas Iyer was given preference ahead of Surya Kumar Yadav in the first two matches of the series.

Shreyas did not produce big scores but made valuable contributions in the 3 matches he featured for Team India. He scored 28 in the first ODI at Guwahati, 28 in tough conditions in Kolkata, and 38 in the 3^rd ODI in Trivandrum. Despite not posting big scores, India posted massive totals of 373 for 7 in the first ODI and then hammered 390 for 5 in 50 overs during the 3^rd ODI.

“Team India batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the upcoming 3-match ODI series against New Zealand due to a back injury. He will be heading to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for further assessment and management. The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Rajat Patidar as a replacement for Shreyas Iyer,” BCCI said in a release.

Rajat Patidar had a dream season for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022. He was a part of the squad that played against South Africa at home last year and was a member of the ODI squad that took on Bangladesh. Patidar has been in excellent form during the ongoing Ranji Trophy season.

The Indian Team will take on New Zealand in 3 match ODI series starting on 18^th January. Rajat Patidar has not made his debut for India despite being in the squad. Shreyas Iyer’s injury will lead to Surya Kumar Yadav playing in the XI.

India ODI squad to face New Zealand:

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (WK), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, KS Bharat (WK), Surya Kumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammad Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik

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