India batter Shreyas Iyer has stepped up his return to cricket as he resumed training in the nets and reported to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru ahead of the New Zealand ODI series, slated to begin on January 11 in Vadodara.

Shreyas has been on the sidelines since suffering a spleen injury while fielding during the third ODI against Australia at SCG in October this year.

As a result of the injury, the India ODI vice-captain missed the recent series against South Africa with Ruturaj Gaikwad batting at his No.4 spot.

Meanwhile, a TOI report claims that Shreyas Iyer will return to action in the New Zealand series, if there are no late setback. He is expected to remain at the BCCI CoE until December 30.

According to the report, Iyer will then join the Mumbai Vijay Hazare Trophy squad in Jaipur on January 2. He is likely to feature in a couple of domestic matches on January 3 and 6 before linking up with the national side.

“We are hearing positive developments around Shreyas. He is very likely to play two games for Mumbai on January 3 and January 6. The final schedule will depend on clearance from CoE but signs are positive for playing those games in Jaipur. He is batting well in the nets and no discomfort,” TOI quoted an MCA official as saying.

Shreyas Iyer's return will certainly bolster the Indian ODI set-up. It will also allow the team management to firm up their plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup. In Iyer's absence, Gaikwad was tried in the middle-order against South Africa and while the latter slammed a hundred, it will be difficult to accommodate both in the playing XI.

The Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee is likely to announce the ODI squad in the first week of January after receiving the necessary clearances for Iyer from the CoE.

(With TOI Inputs)