Indian cricket fans are waiting for the return of the star batter Shreyas Iyer will have to wait a little longer. Despite promising signs of recovery in BCCI Center of Excellence (CoE)The 30-year-old middle-order key player is expected to miss the upcoming three-match ODI series. New ZealandFrom January 11, 2026.
Although Iyer continued to bat in the nets, a combination of medical caution and physical performance forced the selection committee to press the pause button on his international comeback.
Reason for Shreyas Iyer not playing New Zealand series
The main reason for Iyer’s exclusion was the failure to secure the mandatory Return to Play (RTP) permit. According to media reports, while Iyer’s batting appears to be “painless” and smooth, his overall fitness is not yet up to the elite standards required for international cricket. The medical staff is especially worried about his ability to appear for more than 50 matches. High-intensity activities such as diving, sliding and rapid fire put significant strain on his abdominal area, which is still recovering from recent surgery.
It should be noted that Iyer’s ruptured spleen with internal bleeding in October was a life-threatening injury. Subsequent recovery and surgery resulted in significant physical failure. During his time in the hospital and early rehabilitation, he reportedly lost about 6 kg. A more pressing concern for BCCI trainers is the loss of muscle mass, which directly affects his ‘optimal strength levels’.
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A blow to Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare hopes
Iyer was scheduled to play in Mumbai to prove his fitness Vijay Hazare trophy On January 3 and 6. However, without the EC’s green signal, it will miss these important competitive games. The current plan is for him to potentially return only for the play-offs of the domestic tournament (starting on January 12), which would leave him out of the New Zealand ODIs.
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