In what might come as a massive boost for India, 17 days before the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, star batter Shreyas Iyer has resumed batting and has reported to BCCI’s Centre of Excellence
in Bengaluru for further assessment of his injury, according to a report in The Times of India.
As per the report, Iyer batted for close to an hour without any discomfort and is now working towards a return to competitive cricket.
Iyer last played in the ODI series against Australia in October, where a blow to the abdomen ruled him out of the entire Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the subsequent ODIs against South Africa.
Pinning down a return date for Iyer is still tricky, but the report says that he is aiming to be back for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with final timelines to be confirmed by the CoE.
“Shreyas Iyer had a very unfortunate injury in Australia and it made him miss a lot of competitive cricket. The good sign is that he is pain-free at the moment and batted without any trouble in Mumbai on Wednesday,” a BCCI official said while speaking to The Times of India.
Iyer is expected to spend four to six days at the CoE in Bengaluru, where he could gain clarity on his return timelines.
Iyer has already resumed regular gym and fitness routines and all post-injury X-rays and assessments have shown no cause for concern.
“He is already back to regular training in the gym. So, no red flags there at the moment, but all depends on the CoE assessment. He will be there for anywhere between four to six days,” the official said.
India’s next ODI series is against New Zealand, beginning January 11, with the team likely to be announced around January 2 or 3. Iyer’s participation remains uncertain, but a return for the series cannot be ruled out yet.
