KKR captain Shreyas Iyer to miss initial games of IPL 2024 - Reports

Shreyas Iyer scored 95 runs in the second innings against Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 final.

If reports are to be believed, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Shreyas Iyer is all set to miss the initial games of upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024), starting on March 22. The two-time champions KKR, will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their opening encounter at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on March 23.

Middle-order batter Iyer had been among the headlines for the past few weeks for several reasons, both on and off the field. The star player was not included in the Indian team following the second test in Visakhapatnam against England in February, without any explanation given by the management.

However, Shreyas had complained of back pain after the Vizag game, but the NCA deemed him fit. After getting dropped from the remaining three matches against the Three Lions, Iyer faced an axe from BCCI central contracts.

Following his exclusion from the central contract list for 2023–24, Iyer joined his domestic team (Mumbai) to play in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2023-24. He was also named in the playing XI as Mumbai took on Vidarbha in the final this week.

Shreyas Iyer’s back problem resurfaces

Iyer underwent back surgery in 2023 and missed half the year’s action before returning in the Asia Cup. But according to the latest developments his same back injury might rule him out of the first few matches of the IPL 2024. During the ongoing Ranji Trophy final match against Vidarbha, Shreyas made impressive 95 runs in the second innings at the Wankhede Stadium.

Throughout his 111-ball knock on Tuesday, the right-handed batter had to pause twice to seek treatment from the Mumbai physiotherapist for back spasms. The report further added that reports Iyer underwent a scan of his back at a hospital which is raising concerns about his future participation in the IPL 2024.

“It is not looking good. It is the same back injury which has got aggravated. It is unlikely he will take the field on Day 5 of the Ranji Trophy final. He is in danger of missing the initial matches of the IPL,” a source told Times Of India in the report.

The 29-year-old Shreyas was the third-highest run-getter for India in the ODI World Cup 2023. He amassed 530 runs in 11 matches during the prestigious tournament.

Kolkata Knight Riders squad for IPL 2024

Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Phil Salt, Sunil Narine, Suyash Sharma, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, KS Bharat, Chetan Sakariya, Mitchell Starc, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Sherfane Rutherford, Manish Pandey, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Dushmantha Chameera, Sakib Hussain.

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