Shreyas Iyer Cleared to Join Indian ODI Squad for New Zealand Series
Shreyas Iyer Set to Rejoin Team India
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 8: Indian middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer has been given the green light to rejoin the Indian team for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which kicks off on January 11, as reported by a sports news outlet on Thursday.
Earlier this month, although Shreyas was included in the ODI lineup against New Zealand, it was noted that his participation depended on his fitness and approval from the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, following his recovery from a spleen injury incurred during the Australian tour. He has been leading Mumbai in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) and has played two matches, showing promising form ahead of the ODIs against New Zealand.
Currently serving as India's ODI vice-captain, Shreyas suffered a spleen injury while executing a spectacular diving catch during the third ODI in Sydney last October. He was immediately taken to the hospital due to internal bleeding, and tests later confirmed a spleen laceration. This injury sidelined him from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and the home ODIs against South Africa.
As he prepares for the ODIs against New Zealand, Iyer has demonstrated good form, scoring 82 and 45 in the VHT so far, while captaining Mumbai in the absence of Shardul Thakur, who is out of the tournament due to injury.
The majority of the Indian squad, set to face New Zealand, arrived in Vadodara on January 7 for the first ODI. This match will mark the region's first men's international game in 15 years, with the Kotambi Stadium previously hosting women's 50-over matches and the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
In 2025, Shreyas had an impressive run in ODIs, amassing 496 runs in 11 matches at an average of 49.60 and a strike rate exceeding 89, including five half-centuries. He was the leading run-scorer for India in their ICC Champions Trophy-winning campaign, contributing 243 runs in five matches, with two fifties. He is just 83 runs away from reaching 3,000 ODI runs, currently holding 2,917 runs in 73 matches and 67 innings, averaging 47.81, with five centuries and 23 fifties.
India ODI squad:
Shubman Gill (capt), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer (vice-capt), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.