Shreyas Iyer has informed the BCCI that he will take a break from Test and first-class cricket due to a recurring back issue. He will miss the upcoming home Test series against the West Indies and recently withdrew from the India A squad ahead of their second unofficial Test against Australia A.
Despite this, Shreyas Iyer will continue playing white-ball cricket and is expected to feature in India’s ODI series against Australia from October 19 to November 8, 2025. According to Deccan Chronicle, his back stiffness has made it difficult to handle the demands of red-ball cricket, but he remains a key player in limited-overs formats.
Shreyas Iyer Takes a Break From Test and First-Class Cricket: BCCI
Shreyas Iyer recently informed the BCCI that he will be taking a break from red-ball cricket, citing a persistent back problem as the primary cause of the exit of both Test matches and first-class cricket. He has even requested that he will not be part of the home Tests against the West Indies.
This announcement follows the withdrawal of Shreyas Iyer by the India A team just before the second unofficial Test against Australia A in Lucknow. It is reported that his back stiffness is interfering with the physical requirements of red-ball cricket.
Although this can be disappointing news to fans who love seeing him do it in the longer form, it appears to be the only type of action that Shreyas Iyer needs to take to be able to continue to maintain his overall health and performance.
🚨 SHREYAS IYER WANTS A BREAK. 🚨
– Iyer has written to the BCCI that he’ll be taking a break from red ball cricket due to back stiffness and fatigue issues. (Express Sports). pic.twitter.com/MElCnAeBbh
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 23, 2025
Shreyas Iyer, though dropping red-ball cricket, still plans to play white-ball cricket. He will likely be a central figure in the next ODI series of India against Australia between October 19 and November 8, 2025. This specialization in limited-overs cricket enables him to play with the team and look after his health and keep the BCCI aware of his situation.
The case of Shreyas Iyer is not a completely new one. In 2024, he was not included in the annual contracts of the BCCI, because he did not play domestic cricket. Nevertheless, he returned in force in April 2025 when he was awarded his central contract again, due to his performances, including becoming the highest run-scorer in the Champions Trophy in India.
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Amit Mishra’s Take
In my opinion, Shreyas Iyer made a wise and mature choice. Tests and first-class cricket can be physically straining, and players can be subjected to extended hours of practice, travel, and consecutive matches. By withdrawing at this time he is safeguarding his body and helping to keep his performance in the formats that he is most suited to.
By concentrating on white-ball cricket, Shreyas Iyer can be able to keep playing with the Indian team without the risk of being injured. The fans may feel disappointed that they will not see him playing red-ball cricket, and this choice is a wise and responsible attitude towards his career.
The BCCI should help him in this because long term fitness and performance matters more than temporary appearances. To sum up, Shreyas Iyer not playing Test and first-class cricket is a short-term disadvantage, but a clever step on his part and the BCCI.
With a good balance of work and health, he will continue to be a main contributor in the white-ball set up of India in the coming years.
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