Shreyas Iyer’s decision to take a 6-month break from red-ball cricket could have serious consequences. The batter from Mumbai has been experiencing back spasms and stiffness after his surgery and asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for some time off from the longest format of the game.
Prioritising one’s fitness is essential, especially considering the average span of a cricketer’s career. But Shreyas might have to deal with the complications that it’ll create. The last time he had back issues, the BCCI had axed him from their 2023-24 central contracts.
Granted, he hadn’t consulted with BCCI prior to deciding to skip a few Ranji Trophy matches, but those were the consequences of Shreyas’ actions. And he had to earn it way back. Which he did and was included in the 2024-25 contracts.
Consequences of Shreyas Iyer’s red-ball rest
But this decision to take a 6-month break could have a similar effect. Shreyas may not be axed from BCCI’s 2025-26 central contracts but might suffer a demotion. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra highlights how, despite showing promise, Shreyas isn’t anywhere close to the T20I or Test team.
He wasn’t included in the Asia Cup reserves, and while he was made India A captain, he was behind even Sarfaraz Khan in the Test pecking order. But ruling himself out of red-ball cricket, Shreyas might be demoted to Grade C, INR 1 crore annually, in BCCI central contracts.
“What will be the ramifications of this? The thing that is true for Karun Nair is true for him as well, as whoever plays will cement his place. So he won’t get a place easily. Secondly, I feel an issue might come up in his contract, as he is still a one-format player. His name has not come up in T20Is. He plays only ODIs. So he is going to be in the lower category in the contracts,” Aakash said on his YouTube channel.
One also has to consider that in the next six months, several players might overtake Shreyas as candidates for the middle-order position open in India’s Test team. If others earn caps in Test cricket, they’ll be prioritised over him.
The other players included with him in Grade B are Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Barring Suryakumar, who’s India’s T20I captain, the others are all-format players. Shreyas isn’t. It won’t be shocking, as Aakash predicts that he might be demoted in the BCCI central contracts.
