Shreyas Iyer called in as cover for injured Kohli

Shreyas Iyer was the highest scorer in the 2016/17 Ranji Trophy.

Mumbai batsman Shreyas Iyer has been called in as a cover for Indian captain Virat Kohli.

Kohli is nursing an injury on his right shoulder, which he sustained while trying to save a boundary in Australia’s first innings in Ranchi.

On Thursday, Kohli was present at the ground with his teammates. With a bandaged right shoulder, he took part in the customary warm-up session. He did some under-arm throwing during the fielding practice, but did not take part in the nets session.

Iyer is expected to join the team on Friday.

"It made sense to have a back-up batsman because in case of a contingency it is very difficult to reach a place like Dharamsala," a BCCI source said.

Iyer, 22, had a splendid first-class season in 2015-16 where he scored 1321 run to become the leading scorer in the Ranji Trophy. Besides a hundred for India A against the touring Bangladesh side in Hyderabad, Iyer smashed an unbeaten double hundred against Australia at the Brabourne Stadium.