Shreyas Iyer, the talented Indian middle-order batter, has decided to take a break from red-ball cricket. This move rules him out of India’s upcoming two-match home Test series against the West Indies. Iyer shared this news with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after facing ongoing physical challenges that make it tough for him to play four or more days in a row.
The decision hit soon after Iyer stepped down as captain of the India A team and left their camp in Lucknow midway through the ongoing series against Australia A. Reports from The Indian Express say Iyer explained that while he handled shorter games in last season’s Ranji Trophy, the grueling demands of Test cricket and India A matches just don’t work for him right now. So, he’s choosing to step back from the longer format to focus on his health.
This isn’t Iyer’s first break from red-ball cricket. Back in February 2024, selectors dropped him during India’s home series against England. This time, he spoke with the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee before officially telling the BCCI, right after pulling out of the second unofficial Test against Australia A.
Fans had hoped to see Iyer back in action for the West Indies Tests, especially since Karun Nair didn’t shine in the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series against England. His role as India A captain even seemed like a clear sign he was gearing up for a Test return.
Iyer’s track record in red-ball cricket still impresses. He smashed a century on debut and delivered standout innings against New Zealand. But his recent domestic form has been up and down—think a massive 233 against Odisha, followed by quieter scores in the Duleep Trophy.
On the flip side, Iyer thrives in white-ball cricket. He led India to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy and guided Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final, where he was also a top scorer. Despite that IPL success, selectors skipped him for the Men’s T20 Asia Cup, focusing instead on his potential in red-ball games. Now, with this request for a break, it’s clear Iyer isn’t fully on board with that red-ball push.
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