Shreyas Iyer’s comeback plans hit road bump

Shreyas Iyer’s attempts to return to the Indian team for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand has faced a major setback. It is learnt that the batter failed to clear all three strength tests at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Shreyas, India’s designated ODI vice-captain, has been doing rehab at the CoE. Although he did okay in the batting and running drills, he failed the strength tests, each by two marks. Unless there’s a drastic improvement over the next two-three days, Shreyas is all but ruled out of the ODI series against the Kiwis that starts on January 11. The squad selection is likely on January 3 and 4.

Shreyas had suffered a spleen laceration and internal bleeding while attempting Alex Carey’s catch during India’s third ODI against Australia in Sydney on October 25. He was admitted to a hospital in Sydney where a procedure was done to stop the bleeding. After returning home, he was steadily recovering, starting his batting sessions in Mumbai earlier this month before going to the CoE on December 25 for fitness clearance. The Mumbai player was aiming to play a couple of matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in the first week of January in the lead-up to the New Zealand series. The latest setback might see him stay put at the CoE until January 9 or 10.

The knockout phase of the Vijay Hazare Trophy that starts on January 12 appears more likely as regards Shreyas’s return to competitive cricket. As per the BCCI policy, he will have to prove his match fitness in domestic cricket before being considered for international assignments.

Ruturaj Gaikwad was the Indian team management’s choice at No. 4 in Shreyas’s absence in the home ODI series against South Africa. The Maharashtra captain announced his arrival with his maiden international hundred in this format in Raipur.

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