60:Shreyas Iyer Photo by Izhar Khan/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Team India and Delhi Capitals batter Shreyas Iyer, who is currently recovering after undergoing a shoulder surgery earlier in the year, has been ruled out of Lancashire's Royal London Cup campaign. Notably, Iyer had dislocated his shoulder after diving to save a run in the first ODI against England at home in March and was subsequently ruled out of the entire Indian Premier League 2021 with his surgery scheduled in the United Kingdom a day prior to the start of the IPL season in India.
Although it was being speculated that Iyer could return to cricket with his Lancashire stint, following discussion between the club and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), it has been agreed that the 26-year-old would remain in India ahead of his return to competitive cricket.
"I am gutted to not be able to play for Lancashire this summer, a Club that has such history and ambition. I hope to play at Emirates Old Trafford for Lancashire at some point in the future," Iyer was quoted as saying in an official statement released by Lancashire.
Here's the official announcement:
Had things gone according to plan, Iyer was to join the club on July 15 for the duration of the ODI cup's group stage. Till date, the Mumbai batsman has played 50 times for India in white-ball cricket and is also being looked up as a potential future captain of the national team. Under his captaincy, the Delhi Capitals reached their first-ever finals in 2020.
"We are obviously very disappointed, as we were thoroughly looking forward to welcoming Shreyas to Emirates Old Trafford. Ultimately Shreyas’ long-term fitness is of paramount importance and Lancashire Cricket fully respects the decision," Director of Cricket at Lancashire, Paul Allott stated as per the same release.
"We wish Shreyas all the best with the remainder of his recovery, and from the conversations which I have had with the player, believe that this is an arrangement he would be keen to revisit again in the future," he added.
In Iyer's absence, Rishabh Pant was named the captain of Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021 but with the tournament suspended midway and the second half scheduled in September-October in the United Arab Emirates, Iyer has already confirmed his availability for the remaining fixtures. However, he admitted that a final call on the captaincy decision will be taken by the franchise owners.