Shreyas Iyer's red-ball career is set for another pause with the middle-order batter stepping away from the longer format for the next six months. The BCCI confirmed that the Mumbai player had requested a break - citing recurring back issues that have flared up in recent weeks.
While Iyer has made significant comebacks in limited-overs cricket since his surgery, his struggles with the longer format continue to raise questions about his long-term fitness.
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BCCI confirms Shreyas Iyer's red-ball break
In a statement released on Thursday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said Iyer informed the board of his decision to sit out red-ball cricket for the next six months.
Saikia explained that the batter - who underwent back surgery in 2023, has recently experienced recurring spasms and stiffness during longer games.
"He wishes to utilise this period to build endurance, body resilience and work on his fitness," Saikia added, confirming that Iyer was not considered for Irani Cup selection.
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Iyer's back injury first surfaced in late 2022 and worsened during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2023 - leading to surgery in the UK. Though he returned later that year to feature in the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup, the issue has lingered.
He missed parts of Mumbai's domestic red-ball season in 2024 and was even dropped from the BCCI central contracts list for a year before regaining his spot.
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India A squad for the three-match one-day series against Australia A
Iyer will continue to feature in limited-overs matches. He has been named captain of India A for the upcoming one-day series against Australia A.
1st one-day squad: Shreyas Iyer (C), Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Vipraj Nigam, Nishant Sindhu, Gurjapneet Singh, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Porel (WK), Priyansh Arya, Simarjeet Singh
2nd and 3rd one-day squads: Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Verma (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Vipraj Nigam, Nishant Sindhu, Gurjapneet Singh, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Porel (WK), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh
With India's busy calendar ahead, the focus will be on how Iyer balances recovery while remaining a reliable option in the shorter formats.