Shreyas Iyer to miss the first Test against Australia due to injury

Shreyas Iyer in action [Source: Twitter]

In a massive setback for India, dependable middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer will likely miss the first Test against Australia due to injury. 

Earlier, Iyer sustained a back injury which ruled him out of the home ODI and T20I series against New Zealand. 

As reported by ESPN Cricinfo, the player is yet to recover from the injury and unlikely to join the national side for the first Test against Australia scheduled on February 9. 

Furthermore, a source close to the BCCI has confirmed that the Mumbai batter's fitness report will decide his participation in the second Test in Delhi. 

Here's what the source said

"His injury hasn’t healed as expected and he will take two weeks at least to play cricket again. He will certainly not be available for the first Test and his availability for the second Test will be subject to his fitness report."

Iyer enjoyed stellar success in international cricket in 2022, finishing the year as India's most successful batter with 1609 runs across formats. In his absence, Suryakumar Yadav is the frontrunner for the number five batter's slot in the lineup. 

India will also miss Rishabh Pant, who is rehabilitating from a life-threatening car crash. In the absence of two excellent players of spin bowling, the hosts will undoubtedly be under the pump when they face Nathan Lyon and co on a spin-friendly Nagpur deck in the first Test.  

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