IND vs NZ 2023: Top 10 funny memes after Shreyas Iyer is ruled out of ODI series against New Zealand

Team India middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer will miss the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand owing to a back injury issue. The Mumbaikar played all three games in the recently concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Iyer has been a consistent performer for the Indian team in the ODI and Test formats over the past year. He also ended up as the leading run scorer in 2022 for the Men in Blue.

The origin and extent of Shreyas' injury are not yet known. The BCCI confirmed that he would undergo further assessment and rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Madhya Pradesh batter Rajat Patidar will replace him in the ODI squad for the series against the Kiwis side.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) provided an official update on the matter with a statement, that read:

Fans were surprised as news of Iyer's injury surfaced on the eve of the first ODI against New Zealand. Many were concerned about his recovery time as Shreyas Iyer's participation in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Test series against Australia is crucial, with Rishabh Pant already missing in the middle order.

Some fans were concerned only about the present and saw the bright side as Suryakumar Yadav could finally get a consistent run in the playing XI across three ODIs.

Fans used intriguing memes to convey their views on the matter. Here are some of the best reactions:

Team India's updated squad for the 3-match ODI series against New Zealand after Shreyas Iyer's injury

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KS Bharat (wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Rajat Patidar, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik.

India and New Zealand will kick off the three-match ODI series on Wednesday, January 18, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

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Balakrishna has been a cricket writer at Sportskeeda for almost seven years. A sport that he has been following and playing since he was eight, Balakrishna enjoys the intensity of the sport, skills and strategies applied to get a result out of nowhere, and the thrill that it gives. He also played as a medium pace bowling all-rounder in four inter-college tournaments, winning twice.

Balakrishna’s all-time favorite cricketers are Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma. He admires Sachin’s stellar performances against legendary bowlers, along with his discipline and humility. Meanwhile, he is a big fan of how Rohit turned around his initial struggles to build a successful career.

He avidly supports Team India and 2016 IPL winners SunRisers Hyderabad. The first World Cup that Balakrishna ever saw was the 2003 World Cup, when Australia comprehensively triumphed over India in the final.

While working, he ensures he only uses reliable sources and provides relevant, ethical, and accurate information. When not working, Balakrishna enjoys playing table tennis and reading non-fiction books.

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