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In a shocking turn of events, India‘s middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer was notably absent from the playing XI in today’s high-stakes Asia Cup 2023 match against arch-rivals Pakistan. Fans and cricket enthusiasts were left wondering about the reason behind his absence, especially considering his recent comeback to the Indian team.
The reason for Iyer’s absence from today’s match has been revealed as a minor injury concern. Team India captain Rohit Sharma confirmed that Iyer has been nursing a mild back spasm , which was detected during a routine fitness assessment ahead of the game.
KL Rahul comes in for Shreyas Iyer
Star batter KL Rahul, who missed the first two games of the ongoing tournament due to injury, has made his comeback to the side. He replaced Iyer for the contest against Pakistan and would be eyeing to make a mark with his batting performance.
Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who returned home for the birth of his first child, is back into the team and replaced Mohammed Shami in the playing XI.
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“Looking to bat first. There will be a challenge upfront, but the way we guys batted last time around gives us confidence. Every game is important for us, but one thing at a time to focus on. Two changes – Bumrah is back and one forced change, Shreyas Iyer just got a back spasm so KL Rahul comes in for him,” the Indian skipper Rohit said at the toss in Colombo.
The Indian team management, in consultation with the medical staff, decided to rest Iyer as a precautionary measure to avoid exacerbating the injury. This move is in line with their commitment to prioritize player fitness and well-being, particularly with the upcoming crucial matches in the Asia Cup tournament and the ODI World Cup 2023.
India’s playing for the Super 4 stage encounter against Pakistan:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
