Asia Cup 2023: Shreyas Iyer reveals spine-chilling details of his rehab ahead of India comeback

Indian middle order batter Shreyas Iyer has finally returned to cricket after a long journey of physical and mental hurdles following his surgery earlier this year. The impending Asia Cup has marked Iyer's much-awaited comeback, his first competitive appearance since March, after an unfortunate sidelining due to a spine-related injury during the Ahmedabad Test against Australia.

Iyer's significance in India's batting lineup cannot be overstated. His potential to resolve the persistent number four position dilemma makes his return a considerable boost. With 805 runs in 20 innings at an impressive average of 47.35, Iyer's track record speaks for itself.

After making his comeback into the Team India squad for the Asia Cup 2023, Shreyas Iyer shed light on his current approach, the painful rehabilitation journey along with his emphasis on living in the present moment and methodical preparation. In the same vein, he revealed the dark side of his injury.

"See, for me, it is important to be in the present and do my routines right," Iyer said in a conversation with BCCI.

"I don't want to think about what is going to happen beyond and what has happened in the past. I'm happy being where I am. I'm ticking all the boxes day by day. In terms of preparation, I had a fantastic two days of practice with the boys and also it was competitive. So happy to be here right now and embracing each and every moment," he continued.

As a professional athlete, it is tough when the pain is not subsiding: Iyer

Furthermore, Shreyas Iyer also opened up about the nature of his injury, explaining the severe pain caused by nerve compression due to a spinal slipped disc. He underwent surgery in London in May and subsequently underwent rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy. Recalling the difficult rehabilitation phase, Iyer expressed his gratitude to his supporters, including friends, family, and the support staff.

"As a professional athlete, it is tough when the pain is not subsiding. Thankfully I had a great set of friends around me and support staff and also my family," he said. 

"So they were the ones who calmed me down in this situation. I was panicking but patience is the key at this point of time especially. I'm truly happy to be where I am right now because I never imagined that I would recover so fast," he concluded.