Team India's World Cup preparations have been dealt a serious jolt with reports emerging of Shreyas Iyer likely to undergo surgery for his troublesome back.This is likely to keep him out of action from the entirety of IPL 2023, where he was set to lead the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), as well as the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at The Oval in London on June 7.Shreyas has been a pivotal cog in the Indian middle order in ODIs and Tests over the last 12 months and more. A back injury kept him out of the ODIs against New Zealand in January, as well as the first Test against Australia the following month.Although he returned to play the next three Tests, he complained of pain in his lower back in the middle of the Ahmedabad Test. The right-handed batter was sent for scans and did not take part in the contest with the bat.This latest development has compounded India's woes as they sweat over the fitness timeline of Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah. Fans of both Team India and KKR were evidently left worried ahead of the IPL, the WTC final and the ODI World Cup later in the year.Here's how they reacted:Anuj Nitin Prabhu@APTalksCricketJust what i feared. Surgery is reportedly required for Shreyas Iyer. That means no cricket before August-September probably.PantBumrahShreyasWe are in deep trouble on the road to World Cup 617Just what i feared. Surgery is reportedly required for Shreyas Iyer. That means no cricket before August-September probably.PantBumrahShreyasWe are in deep trouble on the road to World Cup 😥∆nkit🏏@CaughtAtGullySerious questions need to be asked. How did Bumrah and Iyer get permission to play ? the same injury reoccurred and got worse in both cases? twitter.com/APTalksCricket…Anuj Nitin Prabhu@APTalksCricketJust what i feared. Surgery is reportedly required for Shreyas Iyer. That means no cricket before August-September probably.PantBumrahShreyasWe are in deep trouble on the road to World Cup 72Just what i feared. Surgery is reportedly required for Shreyas Iyer. That means no cricket before August-September probably.PantBumrahShreyasWe are in deep trouble on the road to World Cup 😥Serious questions need to be asked. How did Bumrah and Iyer get permission to play ? the same injury reoccurred and got worse in both cases? twitter.com/APTalksCricket…Ronak Vora@ronak_hvThat's a big setback for Team India before the World Cup. Iyer in ODIs has been really good for India, particularly in home conditions. twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra…Mufaddal Vohra@mufaddal_vohraShreyas Iyer likely to be ruled out for 4-5 months. (Reported by TOI).2524122Shreyas Iyer likely to be ruled out for 4-5 months. (Reported by TOI).That's a big setback for Team India before the World Cup. Iyer in ODIs has been really good for India, particularly in home conditions. twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra…Vineet B Vinayak@VineetVinayak07In other words :- India likely to not win the WC . twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra…Mufaddal Vohra@mufaddal_vohraShreyas Iyer likely to be ruled out for 4-5 months. (Reported by TOI).2603123Shreyas Iyer likely to be ruled out for 4-5 months. (Reported by TOI).In other words :- India likely to not win the WC . twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra…Souvik Roy@souvikroy_SRTEnough is enough. First Bumrah, then Iyer, both had been rushed to play after cleared by NCA.NCA officials should be banned after this, what on earth they are continuously doing huge mistakes and that costing players ...Or Iyer's back problem is more re-curring? twitter.com/KrAk0451/statu…Hustler@KrAk0451Seriously injured. twitter.com/KrAk0451/statu…25Seriously injured. twitter.com/KrAk0451/statu… https://t.co/fLATGXhTIIEnough is enough. First Bumrah, then Iyer, both had been rushed to play after cleared by NCA.NCA officials should be banned after this, what on earth they are continuously doing huge mistakes and that costing players ...Or Iyer's back problem is more re-curring? twitter.com/KrAk0451/statu…Naman🏏🥰@NamanShah2607Shreyas IyerYaar yeh saal toh WC hai#KKRShreyas Iyer😑😑Yaar yeh saal toh WC hai😬#KKRPrasanna Ganesh Thunga@_monkinthecity_You know its world cup year when India has problem with No.4 twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra…Mufaddal Vohra@mufaddal_vohraShreyas Iyer likely to be ruled out for 4-5 months. (Reported by TOI).3116Shreyas Iyer likely to be ruled out for 4-5 months. (Reported by TOI).You know its world cup year when India has problem with No.4 twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra…Sreerag Rajesh@RajeshSreerag@mufaddal_vohra shreyas iyer and his u19 batch is just cursed3@mufaddal_vohra shreyas iyer and his u19 batch is just cursedRandom_Aarav@Random_r99Idk what's going on with shreyas iyer's injury but it's all gloomy all of a sudden, i won't be able to enjoy this IPL now.1Idk what's going on with shreyas iyer's injury but it's all gloomy all of a sudden, i won't be able to enjoy this IPL now.Vishal@FanpointofviewsIts our golden chance to end trophy drought by winning odi world cup at our home but suddenly our three main odi players are out, first bumrah then unfortunate accident happened with pant and now shreyas Iyer🤦🤦#ODIWorldCup2023361Its our golden chance to end trophy drought by winning odi world cup at our home but suddenly our three main odi players are out, first bumrah then unfortunate accident happened with pant and now shreyas Iyer🤦🤦#ODIWorldCup2023rajdeep das@rajdeepcricKKR But really hoping to see Shardul Thakur being their captain this szn twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra…Mufaddal Vohra@mufaddal_vohraShreyas Iyer set to miss IPL 2023 and WTC Final. (Reported by TOI).1160Shreyas Iyer set to miss IPL 2023 and WTC Final. (Reported by TOI).KKR 😭😭😭But really hoping to see Shardul Thakur being their captain this szn👍 twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra…Starlord@NotTheDarkBladeJust need a miracle now to get pant fit to play matches in CWC 232Just need a miracle now to get pant fit to play matches in CWC 23Brucew tweets (SRH) 🧡🔶🔸.@brucew_tweetsImagine the new kkr captain winning the trophy this year deja vu for iyer twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra…Mufaddal Vohra@mufaddal_vohraShreyas Iyer set to miss IPL 2023 and WTC Final. (Reported by TOI).1160Shreyas Iyer set to miss IPL 2023 and WTC Final. (Reported by TOI).Imagine the new kkr captain winning the trophy this year deja vu for iyer😭 twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra…Shreyas Iyer was India's leading run-getter in ODIs in 2022With 724 runs from 15 innings at an average of 55.69 and a strike rate of 91.52, Shreyas was India's most successful batter in ODIs in 2022. The fact that he scored seven half-centuries and a century in this period is a testament to his consistency in a difficult role in the middle order.He has often bailed India out of strife and gone on to steer them to victory in both Tests and ODIs. With Rishabh Pant's unfortunate car accident also ruling him out of action for a considerable period of time, the Men in Blue are now clutching at straws to secure their middle order for the ODI World Cup to be played at home later this year.Pant and Shreyas aren't the only ones out of action with injuries either. Fast-bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna have both undergone surgery, having suffered stress fractures in the back, and have been ruled out of IPL 2023. Time will tell if any of the aforementioned players can win the race against time to be fit for the World Cup.Who should India consider as Shreyas Iyer's replacement in the middle order for the ODI setup? Have your say in the comments section below!Also read: "I just want to get something from his mindset" - Prerak Mankad on teaming up with LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir in IPL 2023