During the Ranji Trophy semi-final match between Mumbai and Tamil Nadu on Sunday, Shreyas Iyer scored only 3 runs off 8 balls before being clean-bowled by Sandeep Warrier. This match marked Iyer’s return to domestic cricket after not receiving a central contract from the BCCI.
Shreyas Iyer Flopped On Ranji Trophy Return Amid BCCI Contract Row
Iyer came to bat after Sai Kishore dismissed Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane for just 19 runs, adding to Rahane’s ongoing poor form in the tournament. Iyer faced an immediate challenge as he was greeted with a bouncer from Sandeep Warrier, indicating Tamil Nadu’s intention to exploit his vulnerability. In Warrier’s next over, Iyer attempted to take charge by charging down the track, but Warrier adjusted his length, causing Iyer to play onto his stumps.
Iyer’s central contract was terminated by the BCCI
On Wednesday, Iyer was excluded from the BCCI’s annual retainers for the 2023/24 season. This decision came after he disregarded the board’s directive to participate in domestic cricket following his removal from the Indian Test team during the ongoing series against England. His exclusion from the Test team came after a series of poor performances in the traditional format. Although he was expected to play for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy matches, he opted out due to back spasms.
However, according to a report in The Indian Express, the NCA provided a conflicting fitness assessment regarding his condition.
During this period, various media outlets have reported that Shreyas Iyer participated in a pre-IPL camp with the Kolkata Knight Riders team. This purported action has seemingly upset the BCCI selectors, who are responsible for recommending players for central contracts.
As per a report by Revsportz, Shreyas went to the KKR Academy to build his workload. A source revealed:
“After playing 60 balls in a session, his back was building spasms. He had to build up his resistance. Now he is playing 200 balls per session. In three weeks, he has put on three kilos of muscles. The Mumbai Cricket Association and the Mumbai team head coach (Omkar Salvi) have been kept in the loop. In fact, the Mumbai coach visited the KKR Academy several times to monitor Iyer’s progress. And now he has made himself available for the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu,”
He added: “He skipped the IPL to play the World Cup. Even after the surgery, he took three painkiller injections to be pain-free for the World Cup. And yet, the pain returned during the semi-final and the final, and he played through it. Iyer was the only player who wasn’t given a break after the World Cup. He played the home T20I series against Australia and then went to South Africa. After returning from South Africa, he was asked to play a Ranji game in January, ahead of the first two Tests against England. He did that. Doesn’t a player have the liberty to train under a coach of his choice?”
Iyer is set to feature in the upcoming IPL 2024 season, where he will lead the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
