Mumbai, January 6, 2026 – Shreyas Iyer marked his return to competitive cricket with a blistering 82 off 53 balls for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Himachal Pradesh at the Jaipuria Vidhyalaya Ground in Jaipur. This was Iyer's first competitive match since October 2025, after recovering from a spleen injury sustained during an ODI against Australia. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has named Iyer as the captain for the remainder of Mumbai's Vijay Hazare Trophy league matches, replacing the injured Shardul Thakur.
Iyer's injury occurred while attempting a diving catch in the third ODI against Australia in Sydney. He suffered a lacerated spleen with internal bleeding and was hospitalized in Sydney. The injury sidelined him for nearly three months, and his recovery was carefully managed. The extent of the injury was severe, causing his oxygen levels to drop significantly, and he underwent extensive rehabilitation.
Prior to his comeback, Iyer underwent a ten-day period at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, where he participated in a practice game and passed all the necessary fitness tests. He received clearance from the BCCI medical team to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
In the match against Himachal Pradesh, Mumbai won the toss and elected to bat first; however, due to fog, the match was reduced to 33 overs per side. Iyer came to the crease with Mumbai at 55/2. He steadied the innings and launched a counter-attack, hitting ten fours and three sixes during his innings. He eventually fell short of his century, getting dismissed by Kushal Pal for 82. Mumbai finished their innings at 299/9 in 33 overs, with Musheer Khan also contributing 73 off 51 balls.
Iyer has been included in India's ODI squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, which starts on January 11 in Vadodara. However, his participation is contingent upon him proving his fitness in the remaining Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. The senior national selection committee will be closely monitoring his progress.
Mumbai will play their last two group-stage matches in Jaipur, facing Himachal Pradesh on January 6 and Punjab on January 8. The team officials are confident that Iyer's leadership and experience will provide stability to the team. Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube are also available to strengthen the Mumbai squad. Shreyas Iyer has been given leadership responsibilities in place of Shardul Thakur, who is currently unavailable for selection.
