Overview
- Iyer remained at the BCCI Centre of Excellence after a planned December 30 checkout was postponed, with at least another week of rehabilitation scheduled.
- A roughly six‑kilogram loss following an abdominal injury in Australia led to reduced muscle mass and strength, though his batting has not been affected, according to a BCCI official.
- He cleared an initial Return‑to‑Play test on December 28, but subsequent evaluations halted final clearance.
- Vijay Hazare Trophy appearances on January 3 and 6 are now unlikely, with a potential return only from the knockout stage around January 12, per an MCA official quoted in reports.
- Availability for the New Zealand ODI series beginning January 11 remains uncertain, and selectors will be briefed on his status before squad decisions.