Shreyas Iyer’s Fitness Concerns Loom Over India’s Asia Cup Campaign

Colombo: Shreyas Iyer’s fitness is a pressing issue for the Indian cricket team ahead of their crucial Asia Cup Super 4 match against Bangladesh on Friday.

Iyer, the talented right-hander, was one of the few Indian players to participate in the optional practice session on Thursday, raising hopes of his return. However, reports suggest that he is still not fully fit and his availability for the match is doubtful.

Iyer had earlier featured in the group stage matches against Pakistan and Nepal but had to sit out the Super 4 fixtures against Pakistan and Sri Lanka due to back spasms.

His back troubles resurfaced just minutes before the Pakistan match when he injured himself during a warm-up session. Iyer had previously undergone surgery for his back injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, which kept him sidelined for six months.

Given Shreyas Iyer’s importance in India’s World Cup plans, his recurrent back issues are a cause for concern. If he is not fit to play against Bangladesh, the Indian team could replace him with Tilak Varma, who is a left-handed batsman and has been in good form in the nets.

The BCCI selection committee is set to announce the squad for the upcoming Australia series soon. If doubts persist about Iyer’s fitness, the selectors will face a crucial decision as these three ODIs represent the final opportunity to solidify the playing XI before the World Cup.

Tilak Varma likely replacement for Shreyas Iyer

In the event of Shreyas Iyer’s unavailability, Tilak Varma is a likely replacement. His left-handed batting and recent practice sessions during the Asia Cup make him a strong contender.

Bowling coach Paras Mhambrey expressed confidence in both Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, emphasizing their readiness to contribute to the team. He highlighted Tilak’s development since the under-19 level and suggested that even a few overs of his bowling could be beneficial, especially against left-handed opponents.

India may make changes to XI for upcoming matches

As the India team prepares for the upcoming matches, some changes in the XI are possible, considering they have already secured a spot in the final. The final XI remains to be confirmed, but the team management is open to experimenting with different players in the upcoming fixtures.