Missing from action

Iyer did not take the field for the second day in a row, having already missed day three of the final against Vidarbha due to a back problem. According to an ESPNcricinfo report, he was expected to field on day four after getting treatment, but was not seen on the field as Vidarbha put up resistance in the first session.

As the final wicket fell, Iyer and team embraced each other in celebration, stepping out onto the field to join skipper Ajinkya Rahane & co. In another video, captured from the stands, Iyer was seen enthusiastically dancing to the beats of a dhol on the sidelines of the post-match ceremony.

I recorded Shreyas iyer dancing after winning Ranji Trophy final! Wowwwwww😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/dyyclpveng

— Cricket With Laresh (@Lareshhere) March 14, 2024

Iyer had earlier scored a fighting 95 in the third innings to help Mumbai put up a huge lead.

He was recently in the news after being dropped midway through the India-England Test series after a run of low scores and reports that his back issues had resurfaced. He was eventually deemed fit to return to domestic cricket.

However, the bigger shock came when he was removed from India’s central contract list last month. He also missed Mumbai’s final league match, citing back spasms.

Iyer in doubt for IPL?

A report in the Times of India this week indicated that Iyer might be in doubt for the first part of IPL 2024 due to the same back issue. The report quoted a source saying: “It’s not looking good. It’s the same back injury which has got aggravated. It’s unlikely that he will take the field on day five of the Ranji final. He is in danger of missing the the initial matches of IPL”.

The BCCI has put a mandate that says all players vying for an India spot compulsorily need to play domestic cricket, which many of believed to be the reason for Iyer missing out on a central contract.