Middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer is looking forward to playing in Test matches again and will start preparing for this by participating in the Buchi Babu Tournament in Tamil Nadu, which begins on Thursday. Iyer was not selected for the last three Tests in a five-match series against England earlier this year, and there were reports that he had back pain.
Iyer was reportedly told to play in the Ranji Trophy after the National Cricket Academy said he was fit. However, the 29-year-old missed a game, and the BCCI, which was unhappy, did not give him a central contract.
Iyer said that his back had been bothering him since the end of the 2023 ODI World Cup. He then captained the Kolkata Knight Riders during the IPL 2024, and the team won the championship.
Earlier this month, he returned to playing for India in a three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka, but he scored only 38 runs in three innings.
India will play a two-Test series against Bangladesh in September, and Iyer wants to be part of the team again.
“Shreyas is very interested in playing for Mumbai in the Buchi Babu Tournament. He really wants to play red-ball cricket,” said Sanjay Patil, the chief selector for the Mumbai Cricket Association, in an interview.
Along with Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav will also play for Mumbai in the competition, with Sarfaraz Khan being named the captain.
“Even though Shreyas and Surya will only play one game, it sends a powerful message to other state teams that Test players are interested in playing for Mumbai,” Patil mentioned.
On Tuesday, the MCA shared in a statement that Iyer has been added to Mumbai’s team for the Buchi Babu tournament.
“Iyer is set to represent Mumbai in the Buchi Babu Invitation Tournament. He will participate in the Mumbai versus Jammu & Kashmir game starting on August 27 in Coimbatore,” the announcement stated.
In addition, Ishan Kishan, who lost his central contract for not playing in domestic cricket, will captain Jharkhand in the tournament.
