After having a dream start to his Test career, Shreyas Iyer failed to make it to India’s playing XI in the first Test against South Africa. A lot of pundits wanted him in the eleven instead of Ajinkya Rahane in the first Test, but the Indian management decided to go the other way. Rahane scored 48 and 20 in both the innings of the first Test and managed to hold on to his position in the team.

However, with Virat Kohli being unavailable for the second Test due to an upper back spasm, a lot of people were expecting Shreyas Iyer to get into the playing XI. Instead, Hanuma Vihari, who has had a better experience in the South African conditions, was included in the playing XI in place of Kohli.

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As per the reports of ESPNCricinfo, Shreyas Iyer was in fact, believed to have been left out of the playing XI because of having a stomach bug. he has played two Tests, 25 ODIs, and 32 T2oIs so far with a brilliant future ahead for him. He has been the preferred number four for India in ODIs for India now and is seen as a captain in making as well.

The 27-year-old couldn’t find a place in the playing XI unfortunately and this is not the first time he had to be unavailable. Earlier in the year, he suffered a shoulder injury in the limited-overs games against England and had to miss out for a while. His spot in the side was picked up by Suryakumar Yadav who impressed straightaway.

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One of the Twitter users wrote: “Shreyas Iyer was also ruled out of the 2nd Test against South Africa due to stomach bug.”

Shreyas Iyer was also ruled out of the 2nd Test against South Africa due to stomach bug.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 3, 2022

Meanwhile, India won the toss and chose to bat first in the second Test at the Wanderers. KL Rahul has become India’s 34th captain in Tests while Jasprit Bumrah was named his deputy in Kohli’s absence. India has already taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series with a phenomenal performance in Centurion.