India’s stand-in captain Hardik Pandya has admitted that the team will miss Shreyas Iyer in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia.

The right-handed batsman was a part of the squad but was recently ruled out of the series due to recurrence of a back issue. The middle-order batsman suffered the injury while fielding during the fourth Test against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad last week.

He could not take part in the Test after the third day after complaining of pain before being ruled out of the ODIs too. There is also a good chance that he might miss a few games of IPL 2023, scheduled to start on March 31.

Hardik Pandya on missing Shreyas Iyer:

Missing Shreyas Iyer will definitely be a big blow for the hosts. The Mumbai star was India’s highest run-scorer in ODIs last year. In 17 ODIs last year, he scored 724 runs at an average of more than 55. He hit 1 century and 6 fifties in the 50-over format in 2022.

And Hardik Pandya is well aware of his value in the team. The India skipper stated that the team will miss Iyer’s services but also said that the hosts will need to find solutions quickly.

“Obviously, there is no timeline but we have to hope for the best. I have been in that situation where the back could be a problem,” said Pandya.

“It is going to impact, obviously we are going to miss him but we will have to slowly start finding solutions if he is not around (for a long time). If he is around he is more than welcome, but if he is not, then there is a lot of time to think about it and see how we can go forward,” he added said Pandya.

India will be looking to continue their fine start to the year when they take on Australia in the ODIs. Team India have won all the series they have played so far. The first match is scheduled to be played in Mumbai on Friday (March 17).

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