India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has suffered a setback in his return to competitive cricket, as his clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) has been delayed. According to a report by Times of India, Iyer was initially expected to be discharged from the CoE on December 30, but will now remain there for at least another week to complete his Return to Play (RTP) process.

While Iyer has resumed batting without discomfort, concerns remain over his physical condition following an abdominal injury sustained earlier in Australia. The injury resulted in a rapid weight loss of around six kilograms, leading to a significant reduction in muscle mass. Although he has regained some weight, his overall strength levels are still below the optimum benchmark required for competitive cricket. The BCCI medical team is reportedly unwilling to take risks, given Iyer’s importance to India’s ODI setup.

A BCCI official told TimesofIndia.com that while batting is not an issue, the drop in muscle mass has impacted his strength, making full recovery the top priority. The selectors and team management will be informed of his current status ahead of the squad selection for the upcoming New Zealand ODI series.

The report further states that Iyer was earlier expected to play domestic matches on January 3 and 6 and be available for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11 in Vadodara. However, his clearance is now likely only by January 9, making his participation uncertain. An MCA official indicated that Iyer may only be available from the knockout stages of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scheduled from January 12.

Despite resuming gym work, net sessions, and undergoing intensive fitness drills at the CoE since December 25, Iyer is now unlikely to feature in India’s final ODI bilateral before attention turns to the T20 World Cup in February and March in India and Sri Lanka.