5 reasons kept Shreyas Iyer away from cricket in 5 years, will he not play against South Africa?

Sanjeev Kumar

khelja|11-11-2025

Suspense on playing against South Africa (Photo: PTI)

Shreyas Iyer: What was expected regarding Shreyas Iyer after his injury in Sydney, seems to be happening. It is looking difficult for Shreyas Iyer to play in the ODI series against South Africa. The ODI series against India and South Africa is to start from 30th November. But, according to the report, Iyer is still in recovery mode from his injury. In such a situation, it seems difficult to get his game.

October 2025 out of Sydney after injury

Shreyas Iyer was injured in the last ODI between India and Australia played in Sydney in October this year. Iyer suffered a spleen injury, due to which his condition deteriorated so much that he had to be admitted to the hospital. The vice-captain of India's ODI team has still not recovered from that injury. The suspense over his playing in the ODI series against South Africa means that he will stay away from cricket for some more time.

Was out of 2021 due to shoulder injury

By the way, this is not the first incident of Shreyas Iyer's distance from cricket but the fifth in the last 5 years. Shreyas Iyer's trend of staying away from cricket started in the year 2021. When he suffered a shoulder injury during the match against England in Pune on 23 March. Due to that injury, Iyer stayed away for half the season of IPL 2021.

Out of 2023 due to back injury

In the year 2023, he suffered a back injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which kept him away from cricket. Iyer underwent back surgery in April that year, after which he could not play the entire IPL.

Out due to in-in 2 times in 2024

In the year 2024, his back injury recovered again and he withdrew his name in the middle of the Test series against England. He took a break from cricket in September 2025 to avoid recurring back injury in 2024. This was the fourth time in 5 years that Iyer had stayed away from cricket for some reason or the other.