Shreyas Iyer may only feature as a conditional inclusion in India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, but the odds of him returning to the one-day side appear firmly in his favour. In fact, the middle-order batter, who last played an international match in October last year, is widely expected to make his comeback during the series.
While unveiling the squad for the three-match ODI series, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) noted that “Shreyas Iyer’s availability is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE).” However, Cricbuzz understands that Iyer is close to full fitness and is likely to feature in at least one, if not two, of the three matches—even if he were to miss the opening game, reports Live Cricket Score.
“He is almost there,” a source familiar with the situation said. “There’s a 99 per cent chance he’ll be available for the first ODI itself. The only remaining concern from the COE is whether he can get through the workload of 100 overs, which will be assessed during the Vijay Hazare Trophy game.”
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has confirmed that Iyer will join the Mumbai squad in Jaipur on Monday—if he hasn’t already—and will definitely play the January 6 Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Himachal Pradesh. If he receives the green light, he will then head straight to Baroda to link up with the national squad.
Should any doubts persist, Iyer could also turn out in Mumbai’s January 8 fixture against Punjab to further prove his fitness before travelling to Vadodara. The first ODI against New Zealand is scheduled for January 11. Selection committee member RP Singh is understood to be present in Jaipur, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar having also been there over the weekend.
In the highly unlikely scenario that Iyer fails to gain clearance, the selectors are expected to rope in Ruturaj Gaikwad as a replacement. However, that possibility is considered remote. Iyer has been on the comeback trail after undergoing surgery for a spleen injury sustained during an ODI against Australia last October, following a fall while attempting a catch.
Meanwhile, sources have clarified that Rishabh Pant’s place in the ODI setup was never under threat, despite speculation and reports suggesting he could be replaced by Ishan Kishan. The selectors believe there was no justification for dropping Pant, particularly as he has barely had an opportunity in the format, let alone failed in it.
Pant has also earned credit for his commitment to domestic cricket. He is currently captaining Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and, unlike some international players who featured in only a handful of domestic matches, has stayed on with his state team for the entire campaign so far. He has also contributed with the bat, registering two half-centuries.
When fit, Pant has been a regular member of India’s ODI squads since the Champions Trophy, though KL Rahul has generally been preferred as the first-choice wicketkeeper. Pant is expected to remain the second option for the New Zealand series as well, but there is a strong possibility he could get an opportunity at some stage. His last ODI appearance came in August 2024, more than 16 months ago.
