As India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, unveiled the lineup for the Asia Cup Super 4 showdown against Pakistan, one noticeable absence was Shreyas Iyer. It was revealed that Iyer had sustained an injury in the lead-up to the match, leaving him unable to participate. While Ishan Kishan retained his spot in the squad, KL Rahul was brought in as a replacement for Iyer, who was sidelined due to back spasms. The absence of Shreyas Iyer, who has faced a series of injuries this year, raised concerns among former Indian cricket stars Harbhajan Singh and Sunil Gavaskar.

Sunil Gavaskar expressed his apprehension regarding Shreyas Iyer’s recurring injuries. He emphasized that Iyer’s recent injury, considering his prior absence of 5-6 months due to injury, was indeed a cause for concern. While Gavaskar believed the injury wasn’t likely to be long-term, he was relieved that the International Cricket Council (ICC) permits teams to make changes to their World Cup squads in case a player becomes unavailable. Gavaskar remarked, “It’s a worry definitely. If a player is out for 5-6 months due to an injury and then has it again with a month before the World Cup, so yes it is an area of concern.”

Harbhajan Singh made a bold statement regarding Shreyas Iyer’s absence, suggesting it might be a strategic move to accommodate KL Rahul in the playing XI. He even raised questions about the physiotherapy protocols at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and the frequency of injuries among players. Harbhajan expressed his concerns, stating, “Injuries are part and parcel of the game. But getting injured that often is either bad luck or you are making a position for KL Rahul.” He emphasized the need for the NCA to address these concerns, as it’s where players go for rehabilitation and training.