It has been confirmed that Shreyas Iyer will not be available for selection for today’s Asia Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka in Colombo due to the back spasms he suffered yesterday.
Shreyas Iyer was initially carded to play against Pakistan, but he suffered some back spasms in the warm-ups in the morning. He was then rested from the Pakistan game and KL Rahul was carded in the side just 5 minutes before toss at the R.Premadasa Stadium.
KL Rahul made the most of the opportunity and slammed a sizzling century – his 6th in ODI cricket – and was part of a gigantic partnership with Virat Kohli, who ransacked his 47th ODI century.
Shreyas Iyer didn’t travel to the ground today
The BCCI said in its statement on Tuesday: “Shreyas Iyer is feeling better but is yet to fully recover from back spasm. He has been advised rest by the BCCI Medical Team and has not travelled with the team to the stadium today for India’s Super 4 match against Sri Lanka.”
In the post-match presentation after India’s big win over Pakistan, Rohit Sharma confirmed that KL Rahul was drafted in the side just 5 minutes before the toss.
“And then KL, to return from injury and then find out 5 minutes before the toss that he’s playing, and to perform the way he did, it shows the mindset of the play,” Rohit said.
India are not rushing Shreyas Iyer, who had made his comeback from a back surgery in the Pakistan game on September 2 and didn’t get to bat vs Nepal.
Is Shreyas Iyer ruled out of entire Asia Cup?
“It is expected that Iyer will be available for selection for the later games in the Asia Cup and there is no plan to send him back at this stage,” Cricbuzz reported.
Meanwhile, India captain Rohit Sharma has won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka. India have made only one change: Axar Patel coming in for Shardul Thakur.
Teams:
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana
