Shreyas Iyer to announce Test retirement? BCCI gives official update on future

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued an official statement regarding middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer taking a break from red-ball cricket. Notably, the board confirmed that the Mumbai batter has not taken an indefinite break from red-ball cricket and will return to the format after six months.

Iyer has been appointed captain of the India A squad for the ODI series, with Tilak Varma serving as his deputy. However, the right-handed batter will not participate in the Irani Cup between the Rest of India and Vidarbha. Earlier this week, Iyer had withdrawn from the second unofficial Test against Australia A.

Shreyas Iyer Informs BCCI of His Decision to Take a Six-Month Break

On Thursday, September 25, the BCCI confirmed that Shreyas will take a six-month break from red-ball cricket due to recurring back spasms and stiffness. Iyer has recently faced fitness issues while playing the longer format, forcing him to take a temporary break.

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“Mr Shreyas Iyer has informed the BCCI of his decision to take a six-month break from red-ball cricket. Having undergone back surgery in the UK and managed his recovery well, he has recently experienced recurring back spasms and stiffness while playing the longer format," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a statement on Thursday morning.

Shreyas Iyer Wishes to Utilize This Period to Improve Fitness

Shreyas Iyer would have been selected for the Irani Cup, but he was ruled out following his decision to take a break from red-ball cricket. The BCCI stated that Iyer wants to use this period to focus on improving his overall fitness.

“He (Iyer) wishes to utilise this period to build endurance, body resilience, and work on his fitness. In view of his decision, he was not considered for selection for the Irani Cup," the statement added.

Iyer has not played Test cricket since February 2024. The 30-year-old batter has represented India in 14 Tests so far, scoring 811 runs at an average of 36.86, including one century and five fifties. He recorded his career-best score of 105 on debut against New Zealand in 2021.

Shreyas Iyer Will Miss the Upcoming Test Series Against the West Indies at Home

Shreyas Iyer was appointed captain of India A for two unofficial home Tests against Australia A. However, he withdrew from the second match due to back pain.

With a six-month break from red-ball cricket, he will miss selection for the upcoming Indian Test series against the West Indies in October and the two-match series against South Africa in November.

Iyer had been expected to return for the West Indies Tests after Karun Nair, who featured in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England, struggled to make an impact.

The right-handed batter first experienced discomfort during the fourth Test of the 2023 Border-Gavaskar series, which led to months away from cricket, including the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Also read: Karun Nair's international cricket fate sealed