Shreyas Iyer Set to Make Comeback in Vijay Hazare Trophy After Injury Setback

Shreyas Iyer's Return to Competitive Cricket

Mumbai: Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer is gearing up to play his first competitive match following a spleen injury he sustained in October 2024. The 31-year-old will take the field for Mumbai against Himachal Pradesh in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on January 6.

Iyer has been given conditional clearance by the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, as reported by ESPNcricinfo. He underwent ten days of rehabilitation at the COE and participated in a practice match on January 2, where he batted without any pain and completed all drills successfully.

Known for his explosive batting, Iyer has a remarkable track record in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, including a stunning 50-ball 114 against Karnataka in December 2024. He has consistently been a top performer for Mumbai, leading the team to victories and finishing as the highest run-scorer last season with 325 runs in just five matches.

Iyer's injury occurred during India's third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25, 2025, when he fell awkwardly while attempting a catch, resulting in internal bleeding and spleen damage. Consequently, he missed the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the home ODI series against Australia.

The selection for India's ODI squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand will take place on Saturday. While there is a possibility of Iyer being selected based on fitness, it remains uncertain whether the selectors will choose him for the international matches or prefer to observe his performance in domestic cricket first.

In Iyer's absence, Ruturaj Gaikwad has stepped up to bat at number four, impressively scoring his first ODI century. Additionally, Devdutt Padikkal has made a strong case for selection in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, having scored four centuries in just five innings.