Shreyas Iyer forced to miss Pakistan game after suffering back spasms

Two matches after his comeback following a back surgery, Shreyas Iyer has picked up a back spasm during warm-up before the India-Pakistan Super Four match at the Asia Cup, which ruled him out of the contest. KL Rahul, also coming back from an injury, was drafted in at the last minute.

At the toss, Rohit Sharma called it a "forced change" for the team, and that was reflected in the team sheet, which had Iyer marked at No. 4, with Rahul as the 13th man. The numbers were crossed out before the sheet was released, with the two swapping places.

Rahul's usual batting position in ODIs, however, has been No. 5. It was also not clear if he would be fit enough to keep wicket, but India have Ishan Kishan in the XI as well.

Both Iyer and Rahul are returning from injuries.

Iyer hadn't played since the home ODI series against Australia in early March, and missed the IPL altogether, as he recovered from a back condition that required surgery. He was picked in the Asia Cup squad - as well as in the squad for the ODI World Cup starting next month - after being declared fit by the medical personnel at the BCCI's National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, and was in the India XI for both their group-stage games at the Asia Cup, scoring 14 against Pakistan. He didn't need to bat against Nepal as India won by ten wickets.

While the extent or seriousness of his latest injury are not known, it could be a cause for concern for the India team management with the World Cup not far away.

Rahul hadn't played for India since March, and was out of action altogether after tearing a tendon in his right thigh during the IPL. He was selected in the Asia Cup squad following extensive rehab at the NCA. He was, however, ruled out of the first two matches after picking up a fresh niggle.

In Rahul's absence, Kishan, playing for the first time at No. 5 in ODIs, rescued India's innings in the washed-out match against Pakistan.