Shreyas Iyer demands 'break' from red-ball cricket ahead of West Indies series: Reports
While Shreyas Iyer may not have been seeking it, Indian cricket fans viewed his selection as India A skipper as a major consolation. Just weeks before the India A squad was announced for the home series against Australia A, Iyer was left out of the Asia Cup 2025 squad. Despite playing two consecutive IPL finals as the captain, winning one of them, and headlining the latest season with 600-plus runs, the Punjab Kings could not make the cut for the India T20I squad. While Iyer found no place in the T20I squad, his appointment as India A captain for the unofficial Tests seemed to pave the way for the Mumbai batter to earn a spot in the India Test squad for the West Indies series.
Shreyas Iyer writes to BCCI, asks for a break from red-ball cricket ahead of West Indies series
The path laid for Shreyas Iyer to return to the India Test squad for the home series against the West Indies has quickly faded. After leading India A to a draw in the first unofficial Test against Australia A, Iyer pulled out of the squad just hours before the second fixture. While the details were unclear at first, it has now been reported that the 30-year-old is dealing with back issues, forcing him to step away from red-ball cricket for the time being.
In the latest update, Shreyas Iyer is reported to have written to the BCCI, requesting a ‘break’ from the longer format. According to reports, Iyer stated that the same recurring fitness concerns resurfaced during the opening unofficial India A fixture. The back issue, moreover, ultimately led him to withdraw from consideration for a place in the India squad for the upcoming home Test series against the West Indies.
Iyer had initially been appointed skipper of the India A side for the two-match red-ball series against Australia A. The role was intended to prepare him for his Test comeback in the upcoming series against the Caribbean visitors. That assignment, scheduled to commence early next month, was expected to mark his first Test appearance since being dropped halfway through the England series in February 2024. However, he opted out of the second fixture against Australia A, and as per a report, after discussions with the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, he formally approached the BCCI in writing with his request.
The report further revealed that Iyer conveyed to the selectors that he continues to face stiffness in his back and feels his body is no longer able to withstand the rigors of red-ball cricket. He admitted that he finds it difficult to remain on the field for more than four consecutive days, and for that reason, he now seeks time off to recover fully before returning to the format. Iyer also reminded the selectors that the problem had existed the previous year as well, although in Ranji Trophy matches he could afford to take intermittent breaks between overs. However, such flexibility was not possible during India A or international encounters.
“He has informed us that he (Iyer) will be taking a break from red ball cricket and it’s good that he has cleared it out because selectors are now clear about his future. He won’t be playing red ball cricket in coming months and he has informed the board that he will assess his body in future in consultation with physios and trainer and take a call on it,” a source confirmed.
This is not the first time the batter has been plagued by back-related concerns. Last year, after being excluded from the Test squad during the home series against England, he is believed to have sought medical treatment and subsequently informed the Mumbai Cricket Association that he was unavailable for the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal. The matter, however, escalated into a larger controversy when Nitin Patel, then head of sports science and medicine at the National Cricket Academy, reported to the selectors that Iyer was carrying “no new injury” and had been declared fit.
The incident particularly irked the BCCI, which has mandated that all centrally contracted cricketers must participate in domestic tournaments whenever not on national duty. Iyer’s decision to pull out under such circumstances was met with disapproval, and eventually, he was omitted from the BCCI’s central contract list. While Iyer worked his way up to claim the central contract again, the recurring issue has now raised a serious question over his Test career.
