• Source:JND
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India batter Shreyas Iyer, who was sidelined from the ongoing Test series against England, pulled out of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals and informed Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) that he is battling back pain. But contrary to Iyer's comments, National Cricket Academy (NCA), head of sports science and medicine, Nitin Patal, confirmed that Iyer is 'fit' with no sign of 'fresh injury'.

In a letter to selectors as reported by the Indian Express, Patel said Iyer is 'available for selection' and is not dealing with any fresh injury.

“Shreyas Iyer was fit and available for selection as per the handover report of the Indian team after the 2nd Test match against England. There are currently no fresh injuries reported as well after his departure from Team India,” the letter stated.

Iyer was dropped from the ongoing Test series against England after he reported back pain during the second Test in Visakhapatnam.

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Before the start of the third Test in Rajkot, BCCI secretary Jay Shah had issued a stern warning to centrally-contracted and India A cricketers to play in domestic setup else they would face 'severe implications'.

Shah added that first-class cricket remains a 'critical yardstick for selection' to the Indian team.

Iyer and Ishan Kishan are the two top-class players, who are regularly missing the Ranji Trophy games for their states despite being fit. Kishan did not play in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal for Jharkhand against Rajasthan. The wicketkeeper-batter is out of cricket action since pulling out of the South Africa Test series citing 'personal reasons'.

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BCCI selectors had informed Iyer to play Ranji Trophy games to get his back adapted to the batting strain.

In the four innings of the first two Tests against England, Iyer scored 35, 13, 27 and 39 respectively. He was not picked for the remaining three Tests of the series and the BCCI release did not disclose any detail on his omission.