Shreyas Iyer to play two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches for Mumbai

Shreyas Iyer has got a nod from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru to participate in the next round of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, having recuperated from a spleen laceration he suffered during India's tour of Australia last year.

He is in line to feature in the sixth round of matches in Jaipur, where Mumbai will play Himachal Pradesh in the presence of national selectors on January 6. He will also play the subsequent clash on January 8 against Punjab at the same venue.

Iyer, who spent ten days at the CoE for the last part of his rehab, featured in a practice game on January 2 as part of the protocol set for his cricketing return. He batted without pain and undertook all the drills before and after the game without any visible discomfort. Following that, he has been given the green light to link up with Mumbai for the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.

“Iyer has informed us that he has got the clearance from the Centre of Excellence (COE) today, and he can take part in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy game. He will be added for the last two games now, which are scheduled to be played on January 6 and 8,” MCA secretary Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar told The Indian Express.

Shreyas Iyer named in India's squad for New Zealand ODIs

Iyer has been included in India’s ODI squad for the series against New Zealand, subject to fitness clearance. If fit, he will be the deputy to Shubman Gill, who is also making a return from a neck injury he sustained during the Kolkata Test against South Africa. Gill missed the ODI series against South Africa but returned for the T20Is that followed. However, Iyer has been on the sidelines ever since the third and final ODI against Australia in Sydney on October 25.

He had to be hospitalised for spleen laceration with internal bleeding, having done the damage while attempting a catch running backwards to dismiss Alex Carey off pacer Harshit Rana. Iyer hit the ground after completing a stunning catch and clutched his side immediately, while being in visible pain.

He was attended by the team’s physiotherapist before being taken off the field. He did not return for the remainder of Australia's innings. He was subsequently taken to a Sydney hospital, where he underwent necessary treatment under the supervision of the local doctors and the BCCI medical team.