Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy campaign has suffered a major setback as star batsman Shreyas Iyer is likely to miss the upcoming match against Tripura due to a shoulder injury. The injury comes as a blow to Iyer’s comeback aspirations after a lengthy absence from the game due to a back injury.
Iyer, who scored a century in Mumbai’s last Ranji match against Maharashtra, had expressed concerns about his body’s ability to withstand the rigors of consecutive matches. He emphasized the need to prioritize his physical well-being, stating, “I have to listen to my body because I know the amount of threshold I’ve carried over the last few years.”
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) confirmed that Iyer did not travel with the team to Agartala for the Tripura match. The injury is the latest in a series of setbacks for Iyer, who underwent back surgery in London in 2022.
Despite his recent return to form, Iyer has lost his place in the Indian team in both Test and T20 formats. He had hoped to earn a national comeback with strong performances in domestic cricket, but the shoulder injury has put those plans on hold.
Iyer admitted that he had been fearful of his back injury flaring up again, but assured that he had trained extensively to improve his fitness. He also acknowledged that he had been perceived as shirking the longer format, but emphasized that he had addressed that issue by playing seven consecutive first-class matches.
The 29-year-old stressed the importance of managing his body wisely, stating, “I have to be smart in terms of what decisions I make. I need to see to it that my body is in the best shape possible.”
Iyer’s absence will be a significant loss for Mumbai, who are looking to build on their impressive start to the Ranji Trophy season. The team will now have to rely on other batsmen to step up and fill the void left by their star player.
