Shreyas Iyer, who recently withdrew from the unofficial Test series against Australia, led India A in the first Test; however, fitness discomfort led to his return to Lucknow.
In a recent development, the middle-order batter has requested time off from the BCCI for first-class cricket, choosing to focus on his fitness regime and prioritizing limited-overs formats for the Indian team.
Iyer Requests Break from First-Class Cricket
Iyer felt discomfort during his Duleep Trophy run, where he represented West Zone, and experienced similar issues while batting against Australia A. Without wasting any time, he wrote a letter to the Board before returning home.
"He is only seeking a break. After working on his fitness, he will reset his red-ball career and come back stronger," said a source in the know.
Also Read: Ashwin in talks with BBL franchises, set to play backend stages of the tournament
Advertisement
He is likely to miss the upcoming Ranji Trophy season for Mumbai. Iyer has played 14 Tests so far and featured in 70 first-class games, mostly for Mumbai.
Also Read: Time up for USA Cricket as ICC suspends membership, teams to continue playing
Having undergone back surgery in 2023, Iyer hasn’t played red-ball cricket for a long time. He was on the selectors’ radar for quite a while, especially during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. However, he was eventually sidelined and missed the cut for the Asia Cup squad as well, despite being in contention.
Iyer Focus Shifts to Limited-Overs Cricket
While Iyer had shifted his focus back to Tests, the ongoing fitness concerns have forced a pause, and he will miss the Ranji Trophy this season.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Iyer is prioritizing fitness with an eye on white-ball cricket. He is expected to make the ODI squad for the upcoming Australia tour. However, his selection for the T20I squad remains uncertain.
India are set to play 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is from October 19 to November 8.
