THIS 28-year-old century-maker set to step in if vice-captain Shreyas Iyer misses IND vs NZ ODIs
A fitness cloud is hanging over Shreyas Iyer ahead of the IND-NZ ODI series, prompting the selectors to keep a close eye on the alternatives. The 28-year-old century-creator has been kept on the bench and could be called up if the vice-captain fails to get his fitness clearance in time.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s 15-man squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand on Saturday (January 3) and appointed Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain. However, the Indian cricket board has made it clear that the Mumbai-based player’s participation is subject to his fitness clearance.
Iyer has not participated in any competitive match since the injury while fielding during the ODI against Australia in Sydney on October 25, 2025.
According to the latest updates, Iyer will play a Vijay Hazare Trophy match for Mumbai against Himachal Pradesh in Jaipur on Tuesday, January 6, to showcase his fitness. If he gets permission, he will be immediately sent to Vadodara to join the India squad ahead of the first ODI on January 11. In case there are still concerns about his health, he will compete in another Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Punjab in Jaipur on January 8 before joining the Indian team.
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According to Cricbuzz, if Iyer fails to clear fitness for the New Zealand ODIs, the selectors will include Ruturaj Gaikwad in the squad.
“In the unlikely event of Iyer not being able to get permission, the selectors will field Ruturaj Gaikwad. But the chances of this are very remote,” the report said. it said.
Typically batting at the top order, Gaikwad played at No. 4 for India in the first two ODIs against South Africa in November-December 2025, scoring 8 and 105. The 28-year-old right-hander was not selected for India’s ODI squad despite his century in his last international match.
Currently, Gaikwad is participating in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Maharashtra, where he is also the captain. In his last two matches in Elite Group C, he scored 124 and 66 points in Jaipur against Uttarakhand and Mumbai respectively.
India’s squad for New Zealand ODIs: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.
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