"Guys seriously let’s do some homework before publishing news" - Shreyas Iyer slams reports of him missing Mumbai's next Ranji game due to injury
Team India batter Shreyas Iyer has slammed reports suggesting that he is injured and will miss Mumbai's next 2024-25 Ranji Trophy encounter against Tripura, starting October 26. The 29-year-old, who has dealt with several back injuries, had recently expressed relief at regaining full fitness.
Shreyas Iyer played in Mumbai's first two Ranji games against Baroda and Maharashtra, scoring a combined 172 runs in three innings at an average of over 57. He helped Mumbai overcome their loss to Baroda with a brilliant 142 against Maharashtra, as they won by nine wickets.
As reports from various websites such as Cricbuzz started doing the rounds late on October 22, Iyer took to his X handle the following morning (October 23) and responded to a handle sharing the news of his injury and unavailability.
"Guys seriously let’s do some homework before publishing news," Iyer wrote.
Shreyas Iyer underwent back surgery last year before returning to the Indian lineup for the 2023 Asia Cup and the subsequent ODI World Cup.
However, injuries and poor form meant he lost his place in the Indian Test team after the second match of the home series against England earlier this year. The 29-year-old was further denied a BCCI contract for skipping one of the Ranji matches last season.
Yet, Iyer led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a third title in the 2024 IPL in May.
"No matter whatever people think outside, I have to listen to my body" - Shreyas Iyer
In an interview after his match-winning century against Maharashtra, Shreyas Iyer said he has ignored the outside noise related to his recurring back injuries. He expressed satisfaction with his current state and said he's doing what's best to maintain optimum fitness.
Iyer said, as quoted by Cricbuzz:
"No matter whatever people think outside, I have to listen to my body because I know the amount of threshold I've carried over the last few years and based on that I'll be taking the right decision and I hope that my team will also back (me). But I'm in a good space right now. I'm doing what I'm meant to do, that is training and playing matches consistently."
He added:
"And I feel that all the matches I've played right now in the past have helped me gain that fitness level. This is my seventh match on the trot and yeah, the body has taken a lot of load. We have to manage here and there and see to it that I strategize in terms of how I play."
Shreyas Iyer's last appearance for India came in the 0-2 ODI series loss in Sri Lanka in August this year.