Indian middle-order batter, Shreyas Iyer sustained a back spasm just before India-Pakistan super 4 clash. This has raised many eyebrows, including that of former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator, Aakash Chopra.
Just before the toss, Indian team has make a change in playing XI due to Shreyas Iyer ‘s back injury. KL Rahul was drafted in, in the last minutes. Chopra expressed his surprise, noting that it appeared to be a choice between Rahul and Ishan Kishan. He emphasized the need to give Rahul opportunities but questioned the timing.
Aakash Chopra said,
“It was a surprise for everyone in whose place KL Rahul was playing. It seemed like it was between him and Ishan Kishan and that the latter should have been played because he is in good form. However, the question was when you would play KL Rahul as at some stage you have to give him chances,”
Chopra’s concern deepened as he delved into the extent of Shreyas Iyer ‘s injury. Having undergone back surgery, the middle-order batter has not played competitive cricket for the past six to eight months. This absence from the game could have contributed to the back spasms he experienced during the Asia Cup.
The 40-year old cricketer turned broadcaster said,
““The first thing is that he is probably undercooked because of which the area on which the surgery happened might have flared up a little bit and the surrounding areas would have stiffened up to save that and he got a spasm due to that, if this happens repeatedly, because he had played only one match (innings) thus far, so with what fitness will he come in the World Cup? We are not even talking about the form at the moment, we are talking about the fitness first,“
Shreyas Iyer will find it difficult to straight away come into the XI
Now, that KL Rahul has grabbed his opportunity by scoring a century against Pakistan. It will be difficult for Shreyas Iyer to replace him in the team. Iyer will have to wait for his opportunity and grab it when it comes. The 28-year old has good numbers at middle-order for India. In 44 ODI matches, he averages 45.69 at a strike-rate of 96.82 which is quite healthy.
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