By Shreyas Iyer’s omission from the Indian cricket squad for the first Test against Bangladesh appears to be a result of a combination of factors rather than mere bad luck. His exclusion has been attributed to inconsistent performances in red-ball cricket and ongoing injury concerns.
Recent Performance Issues: Iyer has struggled to find form in the longer format. After suffering a back injury earlier in the year during the Test series against England, he was unable to secure a place in the squad despite a solid showing in limited-overs formats and a half-century in the Duleep Trophy. However, his overall performances in red-ball cricket have been underwhelming, particularly noted during the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament and the Duleep Trophy, where he had a poor outing in the first innings of one match.
Injury Concerns: His recent injury history has also played a significant role in his exclusion. Iyer was instructed by the BCCI to play in the Ranji Trophy to prove his fitness but opted out of crucial matches, which did not sit well with the selectors. This led to his removal from the BCCI’s central contracts list, further complicating his chances for selection.
Competition for Spots: The competition for middle-order positions in the Indian Test team has intensified, with players like Sarfaraz Khan and KL Rahul performing consistently. This increased competition has pushed Iyer further down the pecking order, making it difficult for him to reclaim his position in the squad. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra noted that the dynamics of the team have shifted since Iyer’s last impactful performance, indicating that the landscape of the Indian batting lineup has changed significantly, reducing his chances of making a comeback at this time.
In summary, Iyer’s absence from the squad seems to stem from a mix of inconsistent performances, injury issues, and heightened competition, rather than simply being unlucky.
