Shreyas Iyer has to clear two match-simulation sessions to get a Return to Play (RTP) clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE). The Indian ODI vice-captain had checked into the facility in Bengaluru on December 25.
Initially, Shreyas was expected to check out on December 30, but his road to recovery has been slower than expected. The 31-year-old looked back to his best in the nets. However, the medical team at the CoE doesn’t think Shreyas has regained his optical strength level.
Shreyas Iyer’s road to ODI comeback
After suffering a lacerated spleen with internal bleeding after a diving catch, Shreyas has lost around 6 kilograms in the last 2 months. Therefore, he needs time to gain back that mass and for his game to be where it was prior to his abdominal injury.
According to Sports Tak, Shreyas has successfully cleared four high-intensity skill sessions, testing his batting and fielding. Based on his current physical shape, he is slated to undergo two more match-simulation sessions on January 2 and 5.
Depending on how his body holds up, the medical team at CoE will decide whether Shreyas should be selected for the India vs New Zealand ODI series. BCCI is expected to name India’s squad on January 3, with a focus on Shreyas, Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant.
Shreyas was to play two matches for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26, but that won’t be happening. This means if Shreyas were to make his international comeback, it would be against New Zealand on January 11 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara.
Probable India ODI squad for New Zealand
Shubman Gill (c), Shreyas Iyer*, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana
* = If unfit, Devdutt Padikkal comes in
