Shreyas Iyer, a celebrated name in Indian cricket, is known for his elegant batting style and on-field leadership. However, behind the scenes, he has been fighting a silent and agonizing battle. His journey, marked by incredible highs and lows, offers a powerful lesson in resilience and the hidden struggles athletes face away from the public eye.
Shreyas Iyer’s career faced a major setback when a severe back injury sidelined him, sparking widespread discussion and keeping him away from the sport. This lengthy break even led to him losing his central contract with the BCCI. Looking back, he shared that just a couple of years ago, he was in a hospital bed in England, experiencing intense pain.
He described the situation by saying that no one could truly understand his suffering, as one of his legs was completely paralyzed. He explained that a spine surgery can often be managed with a rod but his issue was much more dangerous — a snapped nerve. The pain was so severe, it ran from his back all the way to his smallest toe.
He said that people often see athletes as machines that should perform flawlessly in every match, without knowing the challenges they go through. While the surgery was successful, Shreyas Iyer needed a full year to recover. It was during this difficult period that he was dropped from the BCCI’s central contract.
Earlier this year, he found himself in the news again after being left out of the Asia Cup squad. Many fans and experts felt this was unfair, especially given his strong performances in domestic cricket and the IPL. Despite the setbacks, Shreyas Iyer maintains a positive outlook. He believes in focusing on what he can control, which means continuously working on his skills and strength. He says that when a new opportunity comes his way, he will be ready to seize it completely.
