Kolkata Knight Riders’ Captain Shreyas Iyer to Undergo Back Surgery, will Miss IPL 2023 and WTC Final
India batter Shreyas Iyer is set to miss the entire 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) and the World Test Championship (WTC) final due to a back injury that requires surgery. ESPNcricinfo reported that Iyer, the full-time captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, will travel overseas for the surgery and is expected to be out of action for at least three months before resuming training.
Injury Troubles Iyer Since December 2022
According to sources, Iyer has been dealing with an impinged nerve caused by a bulged disc in the lower back area on the right side since returning from the Bangladesh series in December 2022. Despite taking about six injections, he continued to experience discomfort which ruled him out of the white-ball series against Sri Lanka in January, as well as the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in February.
Iyer made a comeback for the next two Tests of the Australia series but did not come out to bat in the first innings of the final Test in Ahmedabad and was eventually ruled out of the match. He was then ruled out of the first half of IPL 2023 after seeking guidance from medical experts. While the Knight Riders hoped he would return for the second half of the season, it is learned that he has not been able to train at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, where he is undergoing rehab under the care of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) medical staff.
Surgery Forces Iyer to Miss IPL 2023 and WTC Final
ESPNcricinfo revealed that Iyer will undergo surgery to address the long-standing injury, and is expected to be out of action for three months before he can resume training. Unfortunately, this means he will miss the entire 2023 IPL and the WTC final, scheduled for June 2023 in England.
The absence of Iyer will be a significant blow to the Knight Riders, who were already struggling with a shortage of overseas players in the squad. Nitish Rana has been named the interim captain of the team in Iyer’s absence, hoping to lead the team to a much-needed victory. The Knight Riders have already lost their first two games of IPL 2023 against Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Shreyas Iyer’s absence is a significant loss to the Kolkata Knight Riders, who will miss his leadership and batting prowess. The franchise will need to work hard to make up for his absence and find a way to compete with the other teams in the IPL. For Iyer, a successful surgery and recovery are crucial for his future in cricket, and fans worldwide will be hoping for his swift return to the field.
