Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) Secretary Unmesh Khanvilkar has revealed that the association will speak to India batter Shreyas Iyer regarding his availability for the later stages of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, as the middle-order star continues his recovery from a serious spleen injury sustained during the third ODI against Australia in October. Iyer has been at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru since December 25 for further assessment and rehabilitation.

MCA to speak with Iyer about Vijay Hazare return

Speaking to IANS, Khanvilkar confirmed that while no official conversation has taken place yet, the MCA will reach out to Iyer soon to gauge his readiness to return to competitive cricket.

“No, we have not spoken to Shreyas yet. But we will speak to him about his availability. As of now, there is no official confirmation on this. But it may come in the next few days from him,” Khanvilkar said.

According to sources tracking Iyer’s recovery, if all goes well and he receives medical clearance from the CoE, the 31-year-old could represent Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy matches scheduled for January 3 and 6 in Jaipur.

“The progress of Shreyas in CoE has been good so far. He’s targeting maybe the last two Vijay Hazare Trophy games to return to playing action. It’s up to selectors now to decide on his return to the ODI team,” a source told IANS.

Iyer resumes batting after gym training

A day before arriving at the CoE, Iyer resumed batting after restarting lightweight gym training. He batted for approximately 30-34 minutes at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) nets in Mumbai, signaling progress in his rehabilitation.

The spleen injury, sustained in Sydney during the Australia tour, was a serious setback for Iyer, who has been a key figure in India’s middle order across formats. Spleen injuries require careful management, as they carry risks of internal bleeding and complications if not fully healed.

Potential ODI return against New Zealand?

If Iyer’s recovery continues on track, he could be in contention for selection in India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which begins on January 11 in Vadodara. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is set to meet in the first week of January to finalize the squad.

The series against New Zealand is crucial for India as they look to solidify their plans ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. Iyer’s return would provide a significant boost to the middle order, which has lacked stability in his absence.

Following the opener in Vadodara, India and New Zealand will play the remaining two ODIs in Rajkot (January 14) and Indore (January 18).

A major boost for India’s World Cup plans

If Iyer returns to the ODI setup, it will be a major fillip for India’s preparations for the 2027 World Cup. The right-hander has been a consistent performer in the 50-over format, known for his ability to anchor innings and accelerate when needed.

His experience and composure in pressure situations make him a vital cog in India’s batting lineup, particularly in the absence of senior players who may be phased out over the next two years.

For now, all eyes are on Iyer’s progress at the CoE and whether he can make a successful return to competitive cricket in the coming weeks.