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It is noteworthy that Shreyas Iyer suffered this injury while taking a catch in the Sydney ODI, in which his spleen got ruptured and he had to be admitted to the hospital due to internal bleeding. After treatment and rest, he was gradually allowed to start training.

In his absence, in the ODI series against South Africa, India tried Ruturaj Gaikwad at number four, who strengthened his claim by scoring a century in Ranchi. However, if Shreyas is fully fit, he can directly make a place in the team as vice-captain.

The three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand will start from January 11. At present, Shreyas has started batting practice, but match fitness still remains a big question. In such a situation, there is a possibility that before returning to the team, he may have to play domestic cricket, i.e. for Mumbai in the currently ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. The selection committee can announce the ODI team against New Zealand in the first week of January and if everything goes well, then Shreyas’s name can be included on the basis of fitness.