Shreyas Iyer doubtful for the first few matches of the IPL 2024.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ skipper Shreyas Iyer has suffered a setback with his back injury, potentially sidelining him for the first half of IPL 2024. The injury resurfaced during his impressive 95-run innings against Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy final. This setback comes after Iyer underwent surgery for the same issue in 2023, which sidelined him for an extended period, with his return to action occurring during the Asia Cup in September.

Details regarding Iyer’s injury from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) remain undisclosed, but sources close to the team have indicated a concerning outlook. Reports suggest that Iyer will not participate in Day 5 of the Ranji Trophy final and could miss the initial matches of the IPL.During the recent England series, Iyer had raised concerns about his back pain, eventually leading to his omission from the team after the second Test. Notably, he withdrew from Mumbai’s quarterfinal match against Baroda in the Ranji Trophy due to back pain. Interestingly, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) medical head, Nitin Patel, issued him a fitness certificate, a decision that played a significant role in his exclusion from the BCCI’s annual central contract.This injury setback is a significant blow for the two-time IPL champions, as they missed Iyer’s services last year due to the same issue, resulting in Nitish Rana assuming the captaincy. In 2023, there were hopes that Iyer would return for the second half of the IPL, which did not materialize. The franchise will be hoping for a different outcome in 2024. In Iyer’s absence, Rana is likely to resume leadership duties. Regarding the playing XI, Manish Pandey could potentially replace Iyer, although no final decision has been made yet.