Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are facing a setback ahead of IPL 2024 as their skipper, Shreyas Iyer, is struggling with a recurring back injury. Iyer’s injury resurfaced during his impressive 95-run knock in the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha. The cricketer had previously undergone surgery for the same issue in 2023, which sidelined him for a significant duration until his return during the Asia Cup in September.
Details regarding Iyer’s current injury haven’t been disclosed by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), but sources close to the team suggest a grim outlook. It’s unlikely that Iyer will feature on the final day of the Ranji Trophy final and may even miss the initial matches of the IPL season.
According to a source quoted by The Times of India, “It’s not looking good. It’s the same back injury which has got aggravated. It’s unlikely that he will take the field on Day 5 of the Ranji Trophy final. He is in danger of missing the initial matches of the IPL.”
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During the recent England series, Iyer had already voiced concerns about his back pain, leading to his exclusion from the squad after the second Test. His absence from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match against Baroda due to back pain raised further questions.
Shreyas Iyer got injured & missed the 1st half of IPL 2021
Lost the captaincy to Rishabh
Released before Mega Auction
Skipped IPL 2023 after his surgery
Delivered an all timer WC campaign including a 💯 in SF
Lost his BCCI central contract
Played Ranji and got injured again pic.twitter.com/ZZs0HV6cjU
— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) March 14, 2024
Interestingly, despite his complaints, he received a fitness certificate from Nitin Patel, the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), which played a significant role in his exclusion from the BCCI’s annual central contract. This injury blow comes as a setback for KKR, who had already missed Iyer’s services last year due to a similar injury.
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In 2023, there were hopes that Iyer would return for the latter half of the IPL season, but that didn’t materialize. With Iyer’s uncertain availability, Nitish Rana is expected to lead the team again, while Manish Pandey might step in to replace him in the playing XI.
KKR’s players and support staff are scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on March 14, gearing up for their opening match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23. The franchise’s approach to addressing the Iyer situation is anticipated once their camp commences in Kolkata.
