Indian cricket fans were left in splits with BCCI not giving Shreyas Iyer a central contract. This decision comes after Iyer reportedly skipped domestic cricket citing injuries, which was later denied by the NCA.

The announcement of the annual retainership for the senior men’s team cricketers for the 2023-24 cycle by the BCCI caused considerable buzz throughout the cricket fraternity. At the centre of attention was the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from the BCCI’s list of players, despite the former’s impressive performance in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.

The exclusion of both players stems from their reluctance to participate in domestic cricket, with Iyer citing a back injury. Iyer’s performance with the bat has been on the decline since the World Cup, notably in the most recent Test series against England.

Iyer scored 530 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup, a performance that also saw him achieve the third-fastest century (in 67 balls) by an Indian batter in the tournament, during the semifinal match against New Zealand.

In his more recent performances, Iyer managed only 104 runs in his four innings during the first two Tests against England before being dropped from the squad for the third and fourth Tests.

In reaction to the news, many Indian cricket fans took to social media to express both negative and positive views on the development.

Many online users have highlighted how other players with similar or lower runs in their recent appearances for India have been awarded a central contract, unlike Shreyas Iyer.

Meanwhile, some made sure to share some voice of support for the 29-year-old, hoping for his strong comeback.

On the other side of the scenario, many have been applauding the decision by the BCCI, by citing the importance of domestic cricket in the country. ‘

However, Iyer has also been named in Mumbai’s Ranji squad for the semi-final match against Tamil Nadu. The extent to which this will affect his central contract is subject to further decisions by the BCCI.