Shreyas Iyer slams 82 on return to pitch after spleen injury
In October 2025, during the third ODI against Australia, Shreyas Iyer suffered an injury that turned out to be far more serious than initially suspected. Instead of a simple recovery, he was sent to an intensive care in Sydney and underwent a minor but necessary medical procedure. The future was uncertain, and a return to the field was in serious doubt. But what does a real athlete do? That’s right, he fights. And Shreyas Iyer slams 82 on return to pitch after spleen injury.
Shreyas Iyer slams 82 on return to pitch after spleen injury: return to the field
And so it was January 6, 2026, at the Jaipur Vidhyalaya Stadium in Jaipur. Vijay Hazare Trophy match, Mumbai vs Himachal Pradesh. After a lengthy rehabilitation, including ten key days at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bangalore, Shreyas Iyer slams 82 on return to pitch after spleen injury. To say it was impressive is an understatement.
The atmosphere was not conducive to relaxation. Mumbai lost two key wickets—Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan—by the eighth over, with just 55 runs on the scoreboard. It was at this point that Iyer, the team captain, took charge.
He didn’t just defend, he attacked, immediately setting the tone for his game. Shreyas Iyer slams 82 on return to pitch after spleen injury, in just 53 deliveries. The ball crossed the line ten times after his hit, and three times it went into the stands.
The third wicket proved crucial. Together with Musher Khan, who himself scored a blistering 73, they literally wrested the initiative from their opponents. Even after Musher’s departure, Iyer didn’t slow down. Together with Suryakumar Yadav, they added another 65 runs in 39 balls, allowing Mumbai to confidently cross 200. Alas, a century didn’t happen that day. On 82 runs, with the score already at 221/5, Iyer was caught by Kushal Pal’s delivery.
Behind the scenes of triumph
Behind the scenes of this brilliant game is a titanic work. A spleen injury is serious, and the road back is fraught with doubts and tests. Even now, despite being included in the Indian team for the ODI series against New Zealand and even being given the status of vice-captain, the final decision is up to the doctors. This is the sporting reality where brilliant statistics – 6,667 runs in List A cricket, 42 half-centuries, 15 centuries – pale in comparison to a single medical verdict.
Therefore, his performance at Vijay Hazare was more than just a victory for Mumbai. It was the answer to all the questions about physical fitness and a demonstration of character. Shreyas Iyer slams 82 on return to pitch after spleen injury, thus not just playing the match, but playing it at high speed, under maximum pressure, with all the cameras focused on him.
The remaining Vijay Hazare Trophy matches will be his final test. He needs to prove his body can handle the pressure of the tournament and can play series after series. Because the confrontation with New Zealand is already another level and pressure.
But looking at those 53 balls in Jaipur, it seems Iyer is more ready than ever for new challenges. He went through pain and uncertainty to hear the applause of the stands again. And that sound, it seems, is his greatest reward and the main motivator to move forward.
