Shreyas Iyer has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a break from Test and first-class cricket. The middle-order batter wants to pause his red-ball career for a short period to focus on his fitness.
The move follows his withdrawal from the four-day match against Australia A, for which he had been named captain. After playing the first game in Lucknow last week, he informed the BCCI of his decision and also spoke to chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
Iyer’s discomfort began during the Duleep Trophy earlier this month, where he represented West Zone, and resurfaced in the India A vs Australia A match. He then consulted BCCI physios and India A coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar before formally writing to the board.
The 29-year-old, who underwent back surgery in 2023, is not retiring from Test cricket. “He is only seeking a break. After working on his fitness, he will reset his red-ball career and come back stronger,” a source said. He is, however, expected to miss the upcoming Ranji Trophy season for Mumbai. Iyer has played 14 Tests and 70 first-class matches so far.
He remains committed to white-ball cricket and is likely to be part of the ODI squad for the upcoming Australia tour. He could also be considered for the T20I squad, with India scheduled to play three ODIs and five T20Is between October 19 and November 8.
