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Key Takeaways
- 1đź“Š Shreyas Iyer: 557 ODI runs at 48.11 avg, 128 vs NZ
- 2🏆 Conditional pick: Vijay Hazare key to 100-over fitness test
- 3đź’ˇ 99% ready per insiders for 1st ODI
- 4đź”® Fuels India's No.4 stability for 2026 Champions Trophy
- 5đź’¬ "Almost there" - BCCI source on comeback
"'He should be available 99 per cent for the first game itself,' a source informed Cricbuzz"
Shreyas Iyer edges closer to an international comeback, with strong prospects for India's ODI series against New Zealand, contingent on final fitness nod from BCCI COE. Absent since October 2024, the stylish middle-order dynamo is "99% available" per insiders, eyeing the Vijay Hazare Trophy as his litmus test. This conditional squad inclusion signals selectors' faith amid India's white-ball rebuild.
Iyer's career boasts 15 ODIs, 557 runs at 48.11 average, including a blistering 128 vs New Zealand in 2023. Post-leadership snub, his IPL 2025 form (512 runs, strike rate 147) screamed recall. India seeks stability at No.4 amid Champions Trophy 2026 prep, where Iyer's cover-drive mastery and tactical nous shine. His return fits post-World Cup transitional phase.
Fitness Hurdle to Middle-Order Revival
Technically, Iyer's readiness hinges on enduring 100 overs—COE assesses via domestics. Stats favor him: ODI average vs NZ: 60+, with 2 fifties in 5 inns. Compared to 2019 recall after injury, where he averaged 45 in next 10 games, history bodes well. Mumbai Cricket Association confirms his Vijay Hazare participation, a platform mirroring Rahul Dravid's pre-return domestics.
Boost for India's White-Ball Ambitions
Implications elevate India's series: Iyer stabilizes vs New Zealand's seam attack, potentially partnering Shubman Gill. Career-wise, it reignites World Cup contention; for team, bolsters depth beyond Virat Kohli. Parallels Rishabh Pant's 2022 return—transformative. With ODI standings tight, wins here propel Champions Trophy momentum.
"He is almost there, 99% for the first game." - BCCI Source
Outlook: Iyer likely debuts in at least two ODIs, paving 2026 path. Watch his Vijay Hazare knock—could it herald a new peak? Essential viewing for India fans eyeing global dominance.
