The selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar is anticipated to announce the Australia series squad at some point this week. India is currently facing concerns over the fitness of Shreyas Iyer, who is dealing with back stiffness.
These concerns arise as the national selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, is set to announce the squad for the upcoming Australia series this week. Shreyas Iyer’s injury doesn’t seem to be overly serious, but it raises doubts about his availability for India’s final Super 4 game against Bangladesh.
Iyer, who recently returned to international cricket after a prolonged layoff due to a back injury that required surgery, played against Pakistan and Nepal in the group stage of the ongoing tournament. However, he had to pull out of the high-stakes match against Pakistan at the last moment due to back spasms.
While the extent of his discomfort will become clearer during the optional training session before the Bangladesh game, there are reports of some stiffness, which could affect his fielding, but it’s hoped it won’t be a severe setback.
India is worried about Shreyas Iyer’s back injury
The timing of Iyer’s injury is less than ideal, as the squad announcement for the Australia series is impending. Missing this series would mean a significant lack of match practice for Iyer, with only two warm-up games left before India’s first match against Australia on October 8.
On a positive note, KL Rahul’s recent performances have alleviated some of India’s fitness concerns. He scored a century and 39 runs in the two Super 4 games and, despite initial struggles, showed improved confidence while keeping wickets.
Ishan Kishan, who has performed well in recent ODIs, has faced challenges on slow pitches during the ongoing tournament. However, it remains to be seen if Iyer, if fit, will replace Kishan in the final Super 4 game against Bangladesh.
As for the squad announcement, it could take place on the day of the Bangladesh game or just before the Asia Cup final. The Indian team management is surely keeping its fingers crossed, as the clock ticks down to the September 27 deadline for the final squad announcement.
In the meantime, traveling reserve Sanju Samson has returned home, and there’s the possibility that Tilak Verma could be considered if Iyer’s recovery is delayed, adding an element of suspense to the selection process.
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