KANPUR, Oct. 1 -- It had taken many by surprise when in-form batter Shreyas Iyer decided to take six months off from red ball cricket just before the selection of Team India for the two-Test home series against West Indies last month and that too after leading India A against Australia A in the first unofficial four-day Test in Lucknow.

In fact, the Mumbai batter has been experiencing back spasms and stiffness after his surgery and he didn't play the second match at Lucknow, which India A won by five wickets with KL Rahul hitting a sparkling unbeaten century. Iyer was immediately named captain of the white ball team to play three-match unofficial one-day series against the same side here in Kanpur.

Rain washed out the first match on Tue...