IND vs AUS: India in Soreness, Key Batter Gone for Scans on Day 4; BCCI Confirms
IND vs AUS: Shreyas Iyer still has to bat in Ahmedabad Test
India went with sending Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Shreyas Iyer, which may have a tactically brilliant decision by Rohit Sharma's India; however, many eyebrows were raised when an experienced KS Bharat strode out to the middle ahead of India's regular number five.
Iyer, who is well known for his prowess to hit long ball against spinners, isn't in the stadium after he felt some discomfort in his lower back on Saturday evening (Day 3). The right-handed batter has been taken for scans on Sunday morning, and is being monitored by the BCCI's medical team.
The news was confirmed by the host broadcaster, Star Sports, after Bharat came out to the middle after Jadeja's soft dismissal.
Earlier in the year, the 28-year-old had to miss the first Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT 2023) at Nagpur and the white-ball series against New Zealand due to his back injury. He had to complete his rehab in the NCA, Bangalore, before joining the Test squad in Delhi.
Unfortunately for India and the batter, the same soreness has resurfaced; but the depth of Iyer's current pain is unclear.
If the Mumbai batter can't take up the field due to his back discomfort, then India will be left with one less batting option, as they cannot substitute. If Iyer had been hit on his head or near the neck region, that too on the field, then the home team would have had the luxury to bring a concussion substitute.
Talking about the match that is underway at Ahmedabad, India have crossed the 300-run mark in the first innings but are trailing by 157 runs. Virat Kohli at 71* has joined forces with Bharat (9*) on Day 4.
If Kohli converts his current score into a three-figure then he would break a three-year-long exile of not scoring a hundred in Tests.
It is a developing story...
 "Arjun Bhalla")
