The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently unveiled its 15-member squad for the two-match home Test series against West Indies. The team will be led by young sensation Shubman Gill, with seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja named as his deputy. A significant inclusion is Devdutt Padikkal, marking his return to the Test setup. However, the most talked-about omission is Shreyas Iyer. Addressing the media, chief selector Ajit Agarkar provided clarity on Iyer’s absence, stating, “Shreyas is an experienced player who has even captained India A. We are always keen to foster leadership qualities across our players. Regrettably, he’s unavailable due to fitness concerns. Our primary goal is to see him on the field, performing at his best.”
Iyer is currently leading the India A side in a three-match 50-over series against Australia A, which commenced on September 30 in Kanpur. Prior to this, he had captained India A in their inaugural unofficial four-day Test against Australia A but subsequently pulled out of the second fixture. He had formally requested a six-month sabbatical from red-ball cricket to prioritize ongoing issues with his back, a request that the BCCI has officially granted.
Iyer’s decision to step away from the longer format for half a year was communicated directly to the BCCI. After successfully recovering from back surgery in the UK, he has unfortunately been plagued by persistent back spasms and stiffness when playing multi-day cricket. This extended break will allow him to dedicate himself to enhancing his endurance, building overall body resilience, and meticulously working on his fitness.
His struggles with back issues date back to December 2022, with a significant recurrence during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy home series in March 2023. A subsequent surgery in April 2023 forced him to miss the IPL season. He was also notably dropped mid-series during India’s home Tests against England in February 2024 due to fitness concerns.
Despite these challenges, Iyer remains an indispensable asset in white-ball cricket. He emerged as India’s leading run-scorer in the Champions Trophy earlier this year, accumulating an impressive 243 runs in just five innings. He also captained Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final. This strategic break offers him the opportunity to concentrate fully on his fitness regimen and fine-tune his white-ball skills, while selectors carefully monitor and manage his long-term commitments.