Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer on Sunday detailed his rehabilitation process from a tough injury that kept him out of action for a large part of this year, saying that he is happy to return from the injury and did not expect to recover this fast from it. In an interview with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), ahead of the Asia Cup starting from August 30, Iyer talked about his mental state during the injury/rehab phase, support system, the practice camp in Bengaluru ahead of the continental event etc.
“I am feeling happy to have re-joined the team and seeing happy faces all around. The compassion shown by all the players was fantastic and I am thrilled to be back,” Iyer said. He added that he was down due to nerve compression and a slipped disk was compressing his nerve and causing extreme pain right down to his tiny toe. He said after the injury, he went back home, got hospitalised and took a lot of rest before he decided to go ahead with the surgery. “Straight after the injury, I went back home and was hospitalized for two days. I gave myself rest for ten days at home. During that period, one of the doctors checked my toe strength. He said that you can manage, but surgery would be required. I decided to get the surgery done because I have long years ahead to play. Even the doctors said that it was a great decision,” said Iyer. Iyer said that after the surgery, he was in London for three weeks. “Post-surgery, I was in London for three weeks. The doctor had to check my progress over a period of time. After three weeks, he asked me to come back then NCA (National Cricket Academy) physios took over. It was a roller coaster ride, to be honest. The pain was there for three months and then it started to subside. Physios focused on getting the range back of my hamstring etc.,” he said. Iyer recalled that the testing phase was the toughest for him. “The testing phase was the toughest. There was pain and physios were confident about me coming back strongly. But I could feel the pain. I was oblivious to whether I would pass the test or not. But over time, it subsided and the strength in my legs improved. We started doing running sessions; the first one was really tough. I was a bit perplexed at that point. In the second session, I progressed, did the Yo-Yo Test, trials and gradually played a match. Then I was gaining that momentum. In the Yo-Yo Test, I surprised myself,” recalled Iyer. Now that he has returned, Iyer wants to stay in the present.
“Now, important for me to be in the present, not think about what happened in the past or what will later. I want to do my routines right. I am happy being where I am at. I am ticking boxes day by day, had two fantastic days of practice with the boys. Happy to be back,” he concluded. The Asia Cup to be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka will start from August 30 with the match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on September 2 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy set to serve as the Men in Blue’s campaign opener.
