Image Credit- PTI
Hold onto Shreyas Iyer or let him go? When the
selection panel convenes on Friday night to choose India’s squad for the final
three Test matches against England, it is expected to be among its first
questions.
A day or two after the conclusion of the second Test
in Visakhapatnam, which India won to level the series at one-all, Iyer had
reported to the team management that he was having back spasms. On the other
hand, it is believed that Iyer was cleared for inclusion by the BCCI medical
team.
Iyer is the only senior Indian batsman, aside from
Rohit Sharma, who did not get a noteworthy score in the opening two Test
matches; he scored 35 and 13 in Hyderabad and 27 and 29 in Visakhapatnam.
Insiders speculate that Iyer’s back pain from
prolonged batting sessions may be the cause of his troubles. His lower back
pinched nerve first became apparent during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy’s fourth
and final Test in 2023. He had a slipped disc last April, necessitating back
surgery that left him in “excruciating pain” and uncertain about his
future.
Iyer went on to play for India in the Asia Cup after
missing the IPL, where he is the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders. But he
could only play in two games due to recurrent back spasms. However, Iyer’s
impressive ODI World Cup performance, which included clutch middle-order
innings in the tournament’s semifinal matchup against New Zealand, indicated he
had completely recovered.
Rahul is anticipated to be healthy for the second leg
of the England series after being ruled out of the second Test due to a quad
ache. The decision to stick with Iyer or go with Rajat Patidar, who made his
debut in the second Test and impressed with his poise and technique, now rests
with the selectors. Not to be overlooked, Sarfaraz Khan was included in the
second Test team but was left out of the starting XI.