Shreyas Iyer was slated to be the next big thing in Indian Cricket. However, his career has been marred by injuries and unfortunate turn of events. Born in Mumbai, Iyer showed early promise as a cricketer, impressing former India cricketer Pravin Amre with his stroke play and timing against quality pace bowlers on the back foot, at a very young age.

Renowned for his technique against quality pace bowlers and his ability to counter-attack on the back foot, Iyer has consistently demonstrated a temperament that belongs on the big stage. Despite significant hurdles, including severe injuries, technical flaws against short balls, and the loss of a central contract, his resilience has led him to lead major franchises to success and emerge as a pillar of India’s white-ball dominance.

Shreyas Iyer Domestic Career

Shreyas Iyer’s domestic journey began under the watchful eye of Pravin Amre in Mumbai. He first showcased his potential on the global stage during the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, scoring back-to-back half-centuries. 

Following a prolific stint in the UK for the Trent Bridge cricket team, where he averaged 99, he made a thunderous First-Class debut for Mumbai in the 2014/15 season, amassing 809 runs at an average of 50.56.

After a period of friction with the national selectors, he responded by dominating domestic cricket in 2024, leading Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title and delivering standout performances in the Ranji Trophy, which paved the way for his international comeback.

Shreyas Iyer T20I Career

Shreyas Iyer made his T20I debut against New Zealand in 2017. While he has frequently found himself in and out of the shortest format due to intense competition and injury breaks, he has provided several impactful cameos.

In early 2022, he was named the ICC Player of the Month following a "blissful" run in T20Is. After a comeback against Australia where he notched a crucial fifty, he faced a temporary exclusion, but he remains a vital middle-order option, known for his ability to maintain a high strike rate during the middle overs.

Shreyas Iyer ODI Career

The ODI format has arguably seen the best of Shreyas Iyer. He made his ODI debut for India against Sri Lanka on December 10, 2017, in Dharamsala. Despite a sedate start, he cemented his spot after the 2019 World Cup, becoming a reliable engine for the middle order.

He slammed his maiden ODI century against New Zealand on February 5, 2020 and reached the pinnacle of his career during the ODI World Cup 2023, where he scored 530 runs, including two consecutive hundreds and a legendary 70-ball 105 in the semi-final against New Zealand. 

In 2025, he reached new heights during the Champions Trophy, finishing as India’s leading run-scorer in their title-winning campaign and proving his worth yet again as a big-match player.

Shreyas Iyer Test Career

Iyer’s Test career began with a bang in late 2021, but it has been the format most impacted by his recurring back injuries. He made a memorable debut with a century (105) and a fifty against New Zealand in November 2021, becoming the first Indian to achieve both in a Test debut. He was named the Player of the Match in his debut game.

While he earned ICC Player of the Month honours in February 2022 for his Test performances, he has faced scrutiny regarding his consistency in "SENA" (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) conditions. 

A disappointing tour of South Africa in early 2024 and a short-lived home series against England led to a brief hiatus from the red-ball side. However, his technique and ability to play spin make him a unique asset in the longest format when fully fit.

Shreyas Iyer IPL Career

Shreyas Iyer is one of the most successful captains in IPL history. He started as the most expensive uncapped player in 2015 for the Delhi Daredevils and was made captain in 2018, leading the franchise to its maiden final in 2020.

In 2022, he moved to the Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 12.25 crore, and in 2024, he guided them to their third IPL title. 

Shreyas Iyer made history as the second-most expensive player ever in 2025, when Punjab Kings signed him for a staggering INR 26.75 crore. This remarkable acquisition followed a rare occurrence where he was released as captain immediately after leading his team to an IPL trophy.

In his debut season as PBKS captain, he broke the franchise's decade-long drought by taking them to the final.

Shreyas Iyer’s history of Injuries

Injuries have troubled Shreyas Iyer quite a bit over the last five years, and here is the timeline of those blows that have stained his international career. Below is a list of injuries the PBKS captain has suffered over the years:

Shoulder Injury in March 2021: Shreyas Iyer suffered a major shoulder injury while fielding during the ODI game against England in Pune. It was the first ODI of the series, and Iyer was eventually ruled out of the entire season of IPL 2021. However, with the IPL postponed due to COVID-19, he managed to get fit for the second half, but the injury cost him his captaincy at the Delhi Capitals. As a result, he also missed out on a place in India's T20 World Cup 2021 squad.

Back injury in BGT 2023: Shreyas Iyer has a long history of back pain, but it amplified during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2023. He complained about the back pain during the Ahmedabad Test and had to undergo major surgery to get rid of the problem. As a result, he missed the entire IPL 2023 along with the World Test Championship. He returned for the Asia Cup and then played a big role in India's road to the final of the 2023 World Cup.

Back spasm in 2024 IND vs ENG series: The back problem returned in the early half of 2024 during the Test series against England. The cricketer played the initial two Test matches but complained about a back problem in the second game and did not take any further part in the series. He also did not play a Ranji game after missing the England series, and it cost him his annual contract.

Break from Test cricket due to back problem in 2025 September: Since the home series against England in 2024, Shreyas Iyer has not had any chance in whites for India. However, it looked like he would return to the Test arena when the selectors made him the captain of the India A side against Australia A. However, after the first unofficial Test, he announced a break from red-ball cricket due to his back issue.

Spleen injury in 2025 October: The latest setback in this long list of injuries is the laceration injury to the spleen. The injury could have been life-threatening if the internal bleeding had been more severe; luckily, in Shreyas' case, his condition was stable soon.

Shreyas Iyer left out of BCCI central contract list

Shreyas Iyer was left out of the BCCI’s contract for the 2023-24 season alongside Ishan Kishan. This came after the BCCI chair, Jay Shah, issued a directive for international players not to prioritise IPL over national duties and domestic cricket. Iyer was expected to play in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Baroda, but he sat out citing back pain.

In April 2025, the batter returned to the BCCI central contract list. Iyer was among the 34 players awarded a BCCI central contract for the 2024-25 season. He returned to a Grade B contract, running from October 2024 to September 2025.

(As of March 2026)