Shreyas Iyer requests break from red-ball cricket in mail to BCCI, says report

Indian batter Shreyas Iyer has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to grant him a break from red-ball cricket after pulling out of the India A-Australia A clash in Lucknow on Tuesday.

Iyer, leading the side, has now told the national cricketing governing body that his long-standing back injury is unable to deal with the toil of the longest format, which is why he will not be featuring in whites for a reasonable time.

“He has informed us that he (Iyer) will be taking a break from red ball cricket and it’s good that he has cleared it out because selectors are now clear about his future. He won’t be playing red ball cricket in coming months and he has informed the board that he will assess his body in future in consultation with physios and trainer and take a call on it,” a source told Indian Express.
Reportedly, Iyer is unable to be on the crease for longer than four days. Hence, he wants a break from the longest format unless his body permits him to play the longer format. He has told the BCCI that he was able to take ample break between overs during Ranji Trophy for Mumbai. But, it is not a practice that he can follow while representing India or India A.

Iyer was in contention to replace Karun Nair in the Test side as the selection committee meets virtually on Wednesday to name a 15-man squad for the series against West Indies, which begins on October 2.