Rahul Dravid, the head coach of Team India, has declared that if Shreyas Iyer is robust enough to handle a five-day Test match, he will be immediately placed in the playing XI.
The Indian middle-order batsman had to be excluded from the series with New Zealand due to a back injury and was unable to take part in the initial Test against Australia in Nagpur. Fortunately, India was successful in their Test match and won by a margin of an innings and 132 runs, despite the player’s absence.
At a press conference prior to the start of the second Test in Delhi on Friday, February 17, Dravid was asked about the probability of Shreyas’ return. He emphatically stated:
“It’s always great to have somebody back from injury. We never like to lose people because of injury. It’s not good for us as a team, not nice for the individual. I’m glad that he is back and fit.”
Dravid added that they will make a decision after a few days of practice. He had an extended practice session today and did some drills. They will evaluate it further when he comes in for a light practice tomorrow and see how it goes.
Dravid asserted that, if he is physically and mentally prepared to endure a five-day Test match, then his past performances would guarantee his spot in the team.
Shreyas Iyer first appeared in a Test match against New Zealand in Kanpur in November 2021. He has featured in seven Test matches, accumulating 624 runs with an average of 56.72, including one hundred and five half-centuries.