New Delhi, Dec 30: India suffered a setback on the eve of the New Zealand ODI series as vice-captain Shreyas Iyer failed to receive the mandatory Return to Play (RTP) clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence
(CoE), pushing back his return to competitive cricket.
As per a Times of India report, according to the original plan, Iyer was expected to check out of the CoE on December 30.
However, medical assessments have now extended his stay by at least another week. While the right-hander has been batting without discomfort, concerns persist over his physical readiness following significant weight loss caused by the abdominal injury he sustained earlier this year.
According to sources, Iyer lost close to six kilograms during rehabilitation. Although he has regained some weight, a reduction in muscle mass has left his strength levels below the required benchmark for international cricket. The medical team is reportedly unwilling to rush his comeback, prioritising a full recovery given Iyer's importance in India's ODI plans.
A BCCI official told TimesofIndia.com that while Iyer's batting is not an issue, the focus over the next week will be on restoring optimal strength levels. The selectors and team management are expected to be updated on his condition before finalising the squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand.
The development is a blow to Iyer's immediate schedule. He was earlier slated to feature in Punjab's Vijay Hazare Trophy matches on January 3 and 6 before joining the ODI squad in Vadodara on January 11. Now, he is likely to receive clearance only around January 9, making his participation in the bilateral series doubtful.
With the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockouts beginning on January 12, Iyer may only return during the latter stages of the domestic tournament. This delay also raises questions about his readiness ahead of India's packed white-ball calendar, including the T20 World Cup in February-March.
