By Khushi Namdev
India’s middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer has officially withdrawn from the India A squad, which is supposed to be playing the second four-day unofficial test match against Australia A in Lucknow.
Shreyas wrote a letter to BCCI seeking a break from red-ball cricket for some time. In line with this, he will be missing the upcoming test series against the West Indies. According to a report by the Indian Express, Iyer has requested the apex body not consider his availability for the forthcoming test matches.
Before arriving at this decision, it emerged that the player had spoken with the selectors and the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, before writing to the BCCI. He stated that his body is unable to cope with the demands of red ball cricket and that he is experiencing stiffness and fatigue in his back. He further added that he cannot stay on the field for more than 4 days at a stretch.
As a result of such misery, Dhruv Jurel is all set to take the leadership role for the India A team and serve as the flagbearer for the squad in the upcoming Test matches. However, no replacement has been named yet in place of Shreyas Iyer.
The left-hander did not have a great start to the series, as he managed to score 8 runs off 13 balls before falling lbw by an Australian off-spinner named Corey Rocchiccioli, which was considered a poor judgment by the player, as the ball appeared to be drifting past the leg stump. He also performed average at the Duleep Trophy semi-finals this month, earlier in Bengaluru.
Due to his situation, Iyer misses out on an opportunity to make a Test comeback for the upcoming two-match home series against the West Indies. It appears that the middle-order mainstay, known for his resilience and stability under serious pressure situations, now just wants to focus on white-ball cricket after his brilliant performances in the Indian Premier League and the Champions Trophy.