Shreyas Iyer still not match-fit, Tilak Varma likely to be fast tracked to World Cup squad - Reports

Shreyas Iyer suffered back spasm and is missing action since the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match against Pakistan.

When everything was looking set and in the balance for team India keeping the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in view, Injury concerns once again brought tensions in the camp. Shreyas Iyer is out of the Indian playing XI due to back spasms. Iyer complained about back trouble once again after India’s Asia Cup 2023 league-round game against Nepal. Iyer missed out on the high-voltage Pakistan clash as well as against Sri Lanka. Team India made a bulk of changes in the playing XI against Bangladesh yet, Iyer remains out of the XI due to persistent trouble.

According to a few media reports, BCCI has officially informed that Shreyas Iyer’s condition is improving but he is still not ready for the entire game. Iyer’s back trouble has prompted team India to also look at other options available apart from him. World Cup 2023 is not so far away as the tournament is set to begin on 5th October. If Iyer fails to get his name in the Playing XI against Australia in the first ODI on 22nd September, Team India will have to replace keeping the mega event just two weeks away. 

Tilak Varma to be fast tracked to World Cup squad ?

Tilak Varma made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in Colombo, Tilak did a splendid job as a middle-order batter in the T20I format. Tilak’s elevation might be fast-tracked in case Iyer is ruled out of the World Cup. Tilak has played 7 T20I games for India and scored 174 runs. He has also got magnificent List-A stats to back his selection. He has smashed 10 Fifty-plus scores in his 25 List-A innings and scored with an absolutely brilliant average of 56.18. 

Shreyas Iyer had a batting session on Thursday with trainer S Rajnikanth. S. Rajnikanth was brought in to fast-track the process of KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant’s rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Iyer faced throwdowns for about 20 minutes and then faced bowlers in the nets for the next half-an-hour. Iyer’s this drill went past without any discomfort suggesting that he is showing improvement in his fitness.