NEW DELHI: India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has suffered another setback in his return to competitive cricket, with his comeback timeline now pushed back despite early signs of progress.
The 31-year-old had cleared the first Return to Play test on December 28, raising hopes of an imminent return, but the situation has changed within days.
According to a report by Times of India, Iyer is yet to regain full physical strength after a serious injury setback. The batter suffered a lacerated spleen with internal bleeding following a diving effort, an injury that resulted in significant weight loss over the past two months.
While Iyer’s batting looks fine in the nets, the medical team is cautious due to weight loss and muscle issues.
“There is no problem with his batting, but he lost around 6 kgs after the injury in Australia. While he has regained some weight, there has been a drop in muscle mass, which has further affected his optimum strength levels,” a BCCI official said.
The official further added that the medical team will not rush his return, keeping in mind his importance in the ODI setup, and that the selectors will be informed ahead of the New Zealand ODI squad meeting.
“There were indications of him playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy matches on January 3 and 6 too, but we have now been told that he needs more time and will only be available from the knockout stages,” an MCA official said.
Iyer had sustained the injury during the India vs Australia ODI series a couple of months ago. Since then, fans have been eagerly waiting for his return, but patience remains key as the focus stays firmly on his complete recovery.
