According to sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Shreyas Iyer, the Indian batsman and captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), will miss the entirety of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well as the World Test Championship final against Australia in June.
This is due to the fact that he is scheduled to undergo back surgery abroad. As a result of the surgery and recovery time, Iyer is expected to be out of action for a minimum of five months. This news will come as a significant blow to both his IPL franchise and the Indian cricket team, as Iyer is a talented batsman and an important member of both sides.
As per a report by ESPNcricinfo, Shreyas Iyer, like his teammate Jasprit Bumrah, will be travelling abroad for his back surgery. The report suggests that the surgery will keep him out of action for at least five months. However, Iyer is expected to return to training three months after the surgery, which might make him available for selection in the lead up to the ODI World Cup in October-November.
This will come as a relief for the Indian cricket team as Iyer is an important member of the ODI setup and his availability for the tournament will be crucial for their chances of success.
Earlier reports had suggested that Shreyas Iyer was considering holding off on surgery and was taking the advice of specialists before making a decision. However, it seems that the situation with his back injury has worsened, and surgery has become the only option left to treat it effectively.
The decision to undergo surgery is likely to have been taken after careful consideration and consultation with medical experts, as it will keep Iyer out of action for an extended period. It is hoped that the surgery will help him recover fully and enable him to return to playing cricket at the highest level without any further complications.
Prior to the announcement of his surgery, Shreyas Iyer was already ruled out of the first half of the 2023 IPL. As a result, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) named Nitish Rana as the interim captain of the team for the duration of Iyer’s absence.
KKR began their IPL campaign with a defeat against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 1, 2023. With Iyer set to miss the entire IPL season now, it remains to be seen how the team will perform without the services of their regular captain and a key player in the middle order.
The recovery process following the surgery is likely to be a lengthy one, but it is hoped that Iyer will make a full recovery and be able to resume his cricketing career without any further complications.