BCCI okays Shreyas Iyer’s six-month break from red-ball cricket

The BCCI has approved Shreyas Iyer’s request for a six-month break from red-ball cricket after recurring back spasms and stiffness resurfaced in multi-day matches. The decision follows Iyer’s withdrawal from the second unofficial Test for India A against Australia A in Lucknow, and it rules him out of upcoming first-class commitments including the Irani Cup.

What the BCCI said

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the approval in a formal statement, outlining both the reason and the plan for Iyer’s return to full fitness.

“Mr Shreyas Iyer has informed the BCCI of his decision to take a six-month break from red-ball cricket. Having undergone back surgery in the UK and managed his recovery well, he has recently experienced recurring back spasms and stiffness while playing the longer format. He wishes to utilise this period to build endurance, body resilience and work on his fitness. In view of his decision, he was not considered for selection for the Irani Cup.”

What’s paused—and what continues

• Red-ball pause: Iyer will sit out all first-class cricket for six months, including World Test Championship home fixtures against West Indies and South Africa, and the Irani Cup.

• White-ball continuity: He remains available in limited-overs cricket and has been named India A captain for three one-dayers against Australia A in Kanpur on September 30, October 3, and October 5.

Recent match workload and form

Iyer led India A in the first four-day game against Australia A and then withdrew from the second match. Before that, he returned to first-class cricket in the Duleep Trophy semi-final for West Zone, scoring 25 and 12 in his first competitive red-ball appearance since IPL 2025. In the first unofficial Test against Australia A in Lucknow, he made 8 in his only innings.

The backstory of Iyer’s back issue

• First reported: December 2022.

• Flare-up: During the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home.

• Surgery: April 2023 (UK).

• Immediate impact: Missed IPL 2023; returned for Asia Cup 2023 and played a key role in India’s run to the ODI World Cup final later that year.

• Management and contracts: Continued to manage workload in domestic red-ball cricket and was briefly omitted from BCCI central contracts in February 2024 before being reinstated the following year.

• 2025 highlights: Top scorer for India at the Champions Trophy (243 runs in five innings), second-highest overall; led Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final.

Why a red-ball break makes sense

Red-ball cricket demands sustained time on feet, repeat high-intensity movements across four to five days, and regular actions that stress the lower back—front-foot strides, rotations in the crease, and deep-field workloads. For a player recovering from back surgery, these cumulative demands can trigger spasms or stiffness even when white-ball workloads feel manageable. A targeted break allows focused work on endurance, load-tolerance, and core stability without the spike-risk of long-format games.

What this means for selections

• Tests vs West Indies and South Africa (home): Iyer will not be in contention, allowing selectors to shape the middle order with form players who can handle multi-day loads.

• Irani Cup: He was likely to be in the Rest of India group for the Vidarbha clash but was not considered after formally seeking the break.

• India A ODIs: The three-match 50-over series in Kanpur gives Iyer competitive time in a format aligned with his current fitness plan.

Roadmap for return

Iyer’s plan centers on rebuilding durability: progressive conditioning for the lower back and core, monitored gym loads, controlled batting volumes, and staged fielding work. After six months, medical and performance staff will reassess red-ball readiness. If milestones are met without flare-ups, he can re-enter first-class cricket as a bridge back to Tests.

A quick timeline

The bottom line

The BCCI’s approval gives Shreyas Iyer clarity: step back from the longest format now, build the base properly, and return when the body can handle five-day stress. It’s a pragmatic move designed to protect a high-impact white-ball player while keeping the red-ball door open when endurance benchmarks are met.