Breaking: Shreyas Iyer's In Doubt For IPL 2024 As Back Injury Flares Up During Ranji Final

Not much seems to be going right for Shreyas Iyer as the India star’s back injury has reportedly flared up during the Ranji Trophy final. This could force him to miss more than just a few games of the upcoming IPL 2024 season, where he is supposed to lead Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Currently part of the Ranji Trophy final for Mumbai against Vidarbha at the Wankhede Stadium, Shreyas Iyer did not field on Wednesday and Thursday. He had played a brilliant innings of 95 runs in Mumbai’s second innings that allowed his side to post a huge target of 538 runs in front of Vidarbha.

Iyer had complained of discomfort in his back after the second Test against England, however, then, the NCA had reportedly cleared him of any issue. That turned into a spiral and controversy as Shreyas Iyer – along with Ishan Kishan – was omitted from BCCI’s central contract list after he didn’t appear for a Ranji Trophy game that the board asked him to play.

Shreyas Iyer turned up for the Ranji Trophy final and even scored 95 runs in the second innings. However, he immediately needed treatment and attention on his back and didn’t take the field for two days in a row.

Times Of India has now reported that this is the same back injury for which Iyer underwent surgery last year, which forced him to miss the IPL 2023 season, but he got fit in time for the World Cup 2023 and had a bumper tournament.

A report in TOI said, “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.”

KKR failed to reach the playoffs under Nitish Rana’s captaincy last season. For IPL 2024, they were positive having roped in Gautam Gambhir as their mentor, beefed up their bowling with Mitchell Starc, and were expecting Shreyas Iyer, who captained Delhi Capitals to the IPL 2020 final, to lead them this year.