Shreyas Iyer fails again, out for his second duck in Duleep Trophy

Duleep Trophy 2024: Shreyas Iyer's form woes continued in the ongoing season as he registered his second duck of the tournament during India D's third-round clash against India B.

In Short

• Shreyas Iyer got out for second duck in the 2024 Duleep Trophy
• Iyer has managed to score 104 runs in 5 innings of Duleep Trophy
• Iyer has looked scratchy vs fast bowlers in ongoing season

Shreyas Iyer's struggles continued in the 2024 edition of the Duleep Trophy, as the Indian middle-order batter registered his second duck of the tournament during India D's third-round clash against India B. Playing at the Rural Development Trust Stadium in Anantapur, Iyer faced a brief stay at the crease, lasting only five balls before being dismissed by spinner Rahul Chahar in the 49th over of India D's innings. He walked in with the team in a comfortable position at 172/3 but failed to capitalize on the opportunity.

India D had started strongly, with openers Devdutt Padikkal and Srikar Bharat putting on a solid 105-run stand, both scoring half-centuries. However, Iyer's dismissal, along with Nishant Sindhu's (19), halted the team's momentum. Iyer's struggles at the crease have been a recurring theme in this year's Duleep Trophy. Across five innings, he has scored 9, 54, 0, 41, and 0, totalling just 104 runs at a modest average of 20.80.

Iyer, who made a memorable Test debut in 2021 with a century, has since battled inconsistency, especially in red-ball cricket. His vulnerability to short-pitched deliveries has become a glaring weakness, impacting his international career. His poor form has raised questions about his place in India's Test setup. Recently, Iyer was left out of the squad for the first Test against Bangladesh.

Moreover, Iyer's exclusion from the BCCI's central contract list has added further pressure. While he is expected to feature in domestic matches like the Irani Cup and T20I series against Bangladesh, reports suggest that Iyer may not be considered for India's upcoming five-match Test series against Australia, and he is likely to miss the home series against New Zealand as well.

With his international future in jeopardy, Iyer's form remains a major concern for him.