Reason why Shreyas Iyer will miss the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand

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Indian cricket fans awaiting the return of star batter Shreyas Iyer will have to wait a little longer. Despite promising signs of recovery at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE), the 30-year-old middle-order mainstay is expected to miss the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11, 2026.

While Iyer has resumed batting in the nets, a combination of medical caution and physical benchmarks has forced the selection committee to hit the pause button on his international return.

The primary reason for Iyer’s exclusion is the failure to secure the mandatory Return to Play (RTP) clearance. According to media reports, while Iyer’s batting appears “pain-free” and fluent, his overall physical conditioning hasn’t yet reached the elite standards required for international cricket. The medical staff is particularly concerned about his ability to field for a full 50-over match. High-intensity movements—such as diving, sliding, and rapid-fire throwing—put significant strain on the abdominal region, which is still healing from his recent surgery.

Notably, the spleen laceration with internal bleeding that Iyer suffered in October was a life-threatening injury. The subsequent recovery and surgical procedure led to a significant physical setback. He has reportedly lost approximately 6 kg during his time in the hospital and early rehab. A more pressing concern for the BCCI trainers is the loss of muscle mass, which has directly impacted his “optimum strength levels.”

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To prove his fitness, Iyer was slated to play for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on January 3 and 6. However, without the CoE’s green signal, he will miss these crucial competitive games. The current plan now sees him potentially returning only for the knockout stages of the domestic tournament (starting January 12), which effectively rules him out of the New Zealand ODIs.

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