Team India’s middle-order batsman, Shreyas Iyer, faces a challenging road to recovery after undergoing surgery to rectify a persistent back injury. The injury has raised concerns about his availability for the upcoming 2023 ODI World Cup, scheduled for October-November. While there are optimistic reports about KL Rahul’s recovery from injury, Iyer’s progress remains slow, making his participation in the World Cup uncertain.
Shreyas Iyer had been battling a troublesome back injury for some time before he opted for surgery, a path his teammate Jasprit Bumrah also took. The injury forced Iyer to miss the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar series in February. Subsequently, it ruled him out of the ODI series and the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Unfortunately, his recovery has been slower than expected, leaving his participation in the World Cup uncertain at this stage.
A senior BCCI official told Inside Sport: “Rahul’s recovery is going well. He should be fit in a month or so. Return from surgery is always tricky, and he is a very important player in World Cup. Iyer’s progress is slow, but we hope he will recover by World Cup. But at this moment, it’s not a certainty with Iyer.”
On the other hand, there is a glimmer of hope regarding KL Rahul’s recovery from his injury. The versatile wicket-keeper batsman is expected to return during the 2023 Asia Cup, scheduled for August-September. Rahul’s return is crucial for Team India, especially with Rishabh Pant seemingly out of contention. He has proven a valuable asset and a reliable run-scorer across formats. Despite missing the World Test Championship (WTC) Final due to his injury, Rahul’s recovery is progressing well, according to a senior BCCI official.
The official added, “Ideally, we want him to play some matches going into World Cup. Asia Cup is the perfect platform. But if he is 100% fit, we can see his fitness in Ireland. It all depends on how he recovers. With Iyer, we have to give him time.”
The recovery process after surgery is often complex and requires careful monitoring. The BCCI official mentioned that Iyer’s progress has been slow, but there is still hope that he will regain full fitness before the World Cup. Ideally, it would be beneficial for Iyer to play some matches to regain his form and confidence leading up to the tournament. The upcoming Asia Cup is a suitable platform for his return, allowing him to test his fitness and readiness. However, the final decision will depend on his recovery process, and the team management will prioritize his well-being over rushing him back to the field.
ICC World Cup 2023 Schedule Announced, Click Here To Check Full Schedule
Before the World Cup, Team India has a series of matches across different formats. They are scheduled to tour the West Indies, participate in the Asia Cup, play a short T20I series against Ireland, and host an ODI series against Australia. These matches will offer valuable game time for the players and help them fine-tune their skills and strategies before the marquee event. It will also be an opportunity for the team management to assess the fitness and form of players like Iyer and Rahul before making any final decisions regarding their World Cup participation.
