Revealed! Why KKR captain Shreyas Iyer wasn't on field for Mumbai on final two days of Ranji Trophy final?

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Shreyas Iyer was one of the key centres of attraction as Mumbai took on Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from Sunday, March 10.

The 29-year-old Mumbai batter recently lost his BCCI central contract. Reports emerged that the selectors were unimpressed after Shreyas Iyer skipped Ranji Trophy quarter-finals and instead opted to practise at the KKR academy.

However, he turned up for Mumbai's semi-final against Tamil Nadu and final against Vidarbha. The right-hander also blasted 95 runs off just 111 balls in Mumbai's second innings on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 final.

He spent more than three hours in the middle and had to receive on-field treatment twice. Notably, Iyer had complained of a back pain after the second Test match in Visakhapatnam. As per reports, he had cited the same pain as the reason for not being able to play for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy quarter-finals.

Another report had suggested that Shreyas Iyer had gone to the KKR academy to get used to the pain. He had complained of feeling the discomfort after facing 30 odd deliveries in the middle.

Why Shreyas Iyer wasn't on field for Mumbai on final two days of Ranji Trophy final

Shreyas Iyer received treatment on his back to be available on field for Mumbai on Day 5. But he was seen in the middle only after Vidarbha defeated Mumbai by 169 runs to win the 42nd Ranji Trophy title.

"Iyer is injured," a source in the Mumbai Cricket Association told Times of India when asked about Iyer's absence from the field on the final day.

"He will have to seek medical advice for which he is likely to go on March 16," the TOI source added.

Shreyas Iyer did a celebratory dance after Mumbai's win. He also attended to junior Mumbai cricketers and officials who lined up for his autographs and pictures with him.

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain is very likely to recover and be available for his team after missing the previous season. KKR kick off their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Saturday, March 23.