India’s batter, Shreyas Iyer, was conspicuous by his absence in the recent T20I series against Afghanistan. The rumor mill suggested that Iyer’s absence was due to disciplinary reasons. Still, no concrete information was available until former India head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed the same in a press conference.

Rahul Dravid Speaks

Rahul Dravid, who has been involved with the Indian team for an extended period, revealed that Iyer’s absence resulted from disciplinary reasons. He further elaborated that there were “a lot of batters” in the team who were being given opportunities to perform. This statement suggests that Iyer’s absence was not due to a lack of form or injury, but rather due to disciplinary issues that led to him being sidelined for the Afghanistan series. “There were absolutely no disciplinary reasons for his noninclusion. It’s just that he missed out. There are a lot of batters in the team and I think Shreyas Iyer missed out. He did not play the T20Is in South Africa as well. It is unfortunate because he is a fine player but there are a lot of batters and it is not easy to fit everyone in the squad and the playing XI. So, no disciplinary reasons at all,” Dravid said.

Impact on Team India

As a player known for his all-round abilities and ability to adapt to different situations, Iyer’s absence left the team short of a key player who could play a significant difference in the match. Despite Iyer’s absence, the series served as an opportunity for other players to step up and showcase their talents. Players like Sanju Samson are being given opportunities in Iyer’s absence, who is considered more than capable of filling the void left by Iyer. In conclusion, Shreyas Iyer’s absence in the Afghanistan T20Is was not due to disciplinary reasons, according to former India head coach Rahul Dravid.