Shreyas Iyer has shown improvement but he is not fully fit yet: BCCI

Shreyas Iyer's eagerly anticipated return to cricket after a prolonged injury layoff hasn't quite gone as planned. The talented Indian batter recently made his comeback during the Asia Cup, but his fitness has left fans and cricket analysts speculating about his readiness for the upcoming ODI World Cup.

Iyer's journey back to the field was hindered just before India's Super Four match against Pakistan. He was set to take the field, but a sudden back spasm forced him to watch from the sidelines. KL Rahul, who stepped in as his replacement, seized the opportunity and played a scintillating knock, scoring a remarkable hundred that grabbed headlines.

In the subsequent Super Four game against Sri Lanka, Iyer found himself once again out of the XI, raising concerns among supporters and analysts alike. With the ODI World Cup 2023 on the horizon, Iyer's fitness remains a significant question mark. 

Having been sidelined since March due to a back injury that required surgery, Iyer's return to the Asia Cup was met with great anticipation. In his recent practice sessions, Iyer seemed to be on the road to recovery, showing no apparent signs of discomfort while facing fast-bowling throwdowns and net bowlers.

Nevertheless, the BCCI has made it clear that he is not yet at full fitness, which led to his exclusion from the playing XI against Bangladesh in the last game of the Super Four. It also seems unlikely he will play the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka on September 17.

With only three ODIs against Australia and two practice games left, the clock is ticking fast for the dynamic batter. If he doesn't get fully fit, Rahul will take his batting position and Ishan Kishan will also get a chance to feature regularly.

It remains to be seen if Iyer gets fully fit before the ODI World Cup 2023 or not as India are scheduled to play three ODIs against Australia after the completion of the Asia Cup.