In his return to domestic cricket, Shreyas Iyer faced a setback as he scored a mere 3 runs off 8 balls in the Ranji Trophy semi-final between Mumbai and Tamil Nadu, raising concerns amid the ongoing BCCI contract dispute. Iyer’s exclusion from the central contract has sparked debates among fans and experts, who believe it could set an example for young cricketers possibly favouring IPL over red-ball cricket.
Initially, Iyer had opted out of a Ranji Trophy match citing a back issue, but conflicting fitness reports from the NCA emerged. Media reports suggested his attendance at a pre-IPL camp with Kolkata Knight Riders displeased BCCI selectors responsible for recommending central contracts.
According to Revsportz, Iyer had joined the KKR Academy to enhance his workload, aiming to address back spasms. A source revealed, “After playing 60 balls in a session, his back was building spasms. He had to build up his resistance. Now he is playing 200 balls per session. In three weeks, he has put on three kilos of muscles.”
The Mumbai Cricket Association and the Mumbai team coach, Omkar Salvi, closely monitored his progress during this period. Despite skipping the IPL to focus on the World Cup, Iyer faced challenges, taking three painkiller injections post-surgery to participate in the tournament. Despite persistent pain during the semi-final and final, he played through it.
Criticism arose as he was the only player not granted a break post-World Cup, participating in the home T20I series against Australia and travelling to South Africa. The narrative questions whether a player should have the freedom to train under a coach of their choice, highlighting the complexities of balancing national commitments with individual preferences.
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