IPL 2024: Shreyas Iyer doubtful for KKR's initial games due to recurring back injury, says report

Shreyas Iyer's injury concerns do not seem to be going away anytime soon. The right-hander has once again reportedly aggravated his back injury during his impressive 95-run innings in the second innings of the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha at the Wankhede Stadium.

This recurring issue, for which the Mumbai batsman underwent surgery last year, has now cast doubt over his participation in the early stages of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. He is set to lead the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), but with just nine days to go before KKR play their first match of the season, uncertainty surrounds Iyer’s participation for the first few matches.

The IPL is slated to start on 22 March, with KKR set to take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Kolkata a day after. During his innings for Mumbai on Tuesday, Iyer had to receive treatment twice for back spasms. Iyer was not able to take the field on the fourth day of the Ranji Trophy final and as per a report in The Times of India, he even underwent a scan for his back at a hospital.

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“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,” a source was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

Iyer’s brilliant knock of 95 helped Mumbai to reach 418 in the second innings of the Ranji Trophy final. His knock comprised 10 boundaries and three sixes.

Iyer was forced to miss two Ranji Trophy matches this season due to back pain after batting for short durations. During this time, he took part in the pre-season camp of the Kolkata Knight Riders. “During the recently-held Test series against England at home, he had told the Indian team management about this injury troubling him again,” the source further added.

Iyer was certified fit by Nitin Patel, the head of the National Cricket Academy's (NCA) medical team. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) then did not award the right-hander a central contract citing his absence from Ranji Trophy matches.