Shreyas Iyer's cricket journey hit a significant roadblock in late October when he suffered a spleen injury during a match against Australia.
The condition, which arose from internal trauma likely sustained
during fielding in a match against Australia, necessitated immediate surgical intervention to repair the damage and prevent complications like internal bleeding. Spleen injuries are particularly serious in contact sports like cricket, often requiring extended recovery periods due to the organ's vulnerability and role in the body's immune system.
Iyer was ruled out of all international action shortly after, missing India's white-ball series against New Zealand and subsequent limited-overs engagements. The surgery, performed successfully in early November in Australia, marked the start of a structured rehabilitation phase at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Under the guidance of BCCI medical staff, he has progressed through initial rest, light conditioning, and now advanced fitness drills, with recent updates indicating positive strides but no full clearance yet.
When will Shreyas Iyer return to Action?
The stylish middle-order batter could make his return in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy Group B match against Maharashtra on January 3 in Jaipur, according to a report from Cricbuzz. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) remains cautious about his participation, prioritizing his long-term health, but sources close to Iyer reveal he is determined to use the game as a vital fitness test. Although the return remains only a 'maybe' for now, Shreyas coming out to bat for Mumbai in the new year in Vijay Hazare Trophy may not be an out-of-the-blue incident.
The India batter recently requested the BCCI not to consider him for the longer format of the game to tackle a recurring back issue. The Mumbai player may not be part of the New Zealand ODI series, but will be in contention for the subsequent assignments if he keeps himself fit. Also, Shreyas is expected to captain Punjab Kings in the IPL 2026.
