After being excluded from the Indian Test team due to poor form, Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer has also reportedly withdrawn from the 2024 Ranji Trophy.

Iyer expressed problems with his back due to him not being available for selection for the Mumbai Ranji team. However, Iyer received a fitness clearance from the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. This development came soon after Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan also made him available for selection for the Jharkhand cricket team.

While head coach Rahul Dravid’s numerous warnings and BCCI instructions for players to play domestic red-ball matches, Shreyas Iyer’s unexpected decision to retire while he was reported to be fit has raised concerns.

Irfan Pathan suspects Shreyas Iyer’s retirement from domestic cricket

Former Indian bowler Irfan Pathan believes there is something strange about the incident and has expressed concern over Shreyas Iyer’s condition. Pathan wrote in ‘X’, “Are there different rules for different players for not playing Indian first-class cricket in the name of body care?”

Are there different rules for different players for not playing Indian first-class cricket in the name of body care?

—Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 22, 2024

Shreyas Iyer was released from IndiaTest team due to their poor form in the first two games of the IND vs ENG test series. Iyer was not picked for the last three Tests and was asked to play domestic cricket. Earlier this month, the BCCI had made it mandatory for all Indian players who were off the field for unnecessary reasons to compulsorily play first-class cricket. Iyer has not scored a half-century in Tests in the last 13 innings.

Despite experiencing lower back and groin problems while batting in the second Test in Vizag, both the BCCI medical team and the NCA staff declared him fit. Despite being available for selection, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee decided to rule him out and instead recommended him to play in the Ranji Trophy. However, Iyer decided not to accept this suggestion.

Shreyas Iyer’s retirement from domestic cricket came barely four days after BCCI secretary Jay Shah highlighted that the unexpected trend of players preferring the IPL over domestic cricket was not anticipated. Shah also expressed his satisfaction over the growth of the Indian Premier League.

Jay Shah had said in Rajkot: “There is a trend that has begun to emerge and it is a cause for concern. Some players have started prioritizing the IPL over domestic cricket, a change that was not expected. “Domestic cricket has always been the foundation on which Indian cricket stands and has never been undervalued in our view of the sport.”

Shreyas Iyer was out of action from international cricket for almost 5 to 6 months in the first half of 2023. Iyer had undergone back surgery, however, he could not fully recover and was thus once again ruled out. of international cricket. . However, Iyer’s performance in white-ball cricket has been excellent and he was also among the top 10 run-scorers in the ODI World Cup 2023.

The Mumbai batsman has not been able to continue his form in the red-ball format despite scoring a ton in his debut Test. The BCCI has been constantly giving opportunities to younger players and has significantly released players who did not perform.