Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Shreyas Iyer is expected to join the team’s IPL 2024 camp soon, despite recent back pain that caused him to miss the final two days of the Ranji Trophy final.
Shreyas Iyer, who missed the entirety of IPL 2023 due to a back injury, suffered a recurrence of the issue during Mumbai’s victorious Ranji Trophy campaign. While he managed a valiant 95 in the second innings, he was unable to field for the remaining two days of the match.
NCA visit unnecessary for Shreyas Iyer ahead of IPL 2024
There were initial worries about the seriousness of the injury, but reports suggest Shreyas Iyer has shown significant improvement. He is likely to be available for KKR’s opening match, with a source close to the franchise stated to The Telegraph that his absence from the field during the Ranji Trophy final was purely precautionary.
Furthermore, Shreyas Iyer will not be requiring a consultation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore. Since he is no longer a centrally contracted BCCI player, he wouldn’t be able to avail of the facilities there free of charge. Additionally, any recommendation for an NCA visit would need to come through his state cricket association.
Past Issues and BCCI friction for KKR star
Shreyas Iyer back problems have caused friction with the BCCI in the past. He was dropped from the Test squad after the second match against England due to back pain, despite the NCA medical team clearing him. He then missed a Ranji Trophy league match citing back spasms but attended a KKR pre-season camp during that time, raising concerns over his priorities.
This incident led to BCCI secretary Jay Shah sending a stern warning to players regarding prioritizing the IPL over domestic cricket. As a consequence, Iyer was omitted from the BCCI’s annual player contracts for the 2023-24 season.
However, Iyer’s recent performances, including his crucial knock in the Ranji Trophy final, seem to indicate he has overcome his injury concerns. KKR fans will be breathing a sigh of relief as their captain gears up to lead the team in the upcoming IPL 2024 season.
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