Shreyas Iyer injury update, India's star batter set to return to action in Vijay Hazare Trophy ahead of T20 World Cup

In a big boost to Team India, their star batter Shreyas Iyer is well on his way to recovery after picking up a life-threatening injury during ODI series against Australia. Iyer has taken a massive step toward his competitive return.

Massive injury update on Shreyas Iyer

On December 24, the 31-year-old completed his first formal batting session in Mumbai since the gruesome injury during the tour of Australia. According to reports from the Times of India, Iyer batted for nearly an hour and, most importantly, experienced no pain or discomfort.

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Iyer to play Vijay Hazare Trophy

Following this successful session, the Mumbai-born batter is traveling to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru to further his rehabilitation. While an exact date for his return to the field has not yet been established, Iyer is reportedly eager to expedite the process. He is currently pushing to feature in the ongoing 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy to regain match fitness ahead of the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand.

"Shreyas lyer 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. India next play New Zealand and while that could still be touch and go, a return in the later stages of Vijay Hazare Trophy can't be ruled out at this stage," a BCCI source told TOI.

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A final determination regarding his comeback will be made following a series of comprehensive physical evaluations at the CoE. Iyer is expected to remain in Bengaluru for four to six days, during which medical experts and support staff will closely monitor his fitness levels and workload. Their assessment will provide the necessary clarity on when he can safely resume high-intensity cricket. Iyer’s absence has been felt since October 2025, when he suffered a severe blow to the abdomen during the three-match ODI series against Australia. The injury forced him to sideline himself for the entire Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the subsequent ODI series in South Africa. This week's progress marks the first real sign that the seasoned middle-order mainstay is nearing a return to the India lineup.
Iyer’s recovery appears to be progressing smoothly, as he has already returned to his regular gym and fitness routines. Encouragingly, all post-injury scans and medical assessments have come back clear, showing no causes for alarm or setbacks in his physical rehabilitation.

With India’s next ODI series against New Zealand scheduled to begin on January 11, the timing for his return is tight.