India’s ODI middle-order may soon find its familiar backbone as Shreyas Iyer battles time, pain and months of uncertainty to make a dramatic comeback for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand at home later this month.
Shreyas Iyer faces final hurdle in New Zealand ODI comeback race
Shreyas Iyer is in the final race to prove his fitness for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. After weeks of intensive rehabilitation, the India ODI vice-captain is finally close to match fitness after suffering a serious abdominal injury on the Australia tour in October and has been out of action ever since.
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With the Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee about to announce the squad, Iyer is set to undergo an important fitness test at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) on January 5, which is key to his selection. Iyer’s return entirely depends on the final medical call.
The three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand is scheduled to begin in Vadodara on January 11, before Rajkot will host the second match on January 14, with Indore hosting the final ODI on January 18. Well, Iyer is pushing himself every day at the BCCI Center of Excellence to prove that his body is ready again.
If things go well, the Mumbaikar will return to India colors in the upcoming New Zealand series after missing the recent home series against South Africa.
Definitive timeline: From Iyer’s grueling recovery at NCA to return to the game
Shreyas Iyer reported to BCCI’s Center of Excellence on December 25 and since then, he has been undergoing rigorous rehabilitation, which includes rebuilding his core strength, footwork and confidence. High-intensity batting practice, intense fielding sessions and long periods of conditioning have been part of the routine of the Indian middle-order batsmen.
His recovery from a spleen injury, which required hospitalization, has been meticulous. On Friday, January 2, Iyer finally stepped into a full match simulation at the BCCI’s Center of Excellence (CoE), which is a crucial test of how his body reacts under game pressure.
Iyer will undergo final simulation on January 5, which will decide whether he gets the all-important return to play clearance. If cleared, Iyer is likely to play for Mumbai in his last Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 match in Jaipur on January 8 to fine-tune his game for his return to India.
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BCCI shared a big update on Shreyas Iyer
“Shreyas Iyer reported to the Center of Excellence on December 25. Since his arrival, he has shown significant improvement in strength and conditioning and has successfully completed four high-intensity skills sessions covering both batting and fielding,” The Times of India quoted a BCCI source as saying.
Based on his current physical condition and achievement of rehabilitation milestones, he took a match-simulation session on 2 January and will take another session on 5 January before receiving clearance for white-ball formats.
