India batter Shreyas Iyer is set to be sidelined until at least March 2026 due to a serious abdominal injury, ruling him out of the upcoming ODI series against South Africa and New Zealand. The 30-year-old, who suffered a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding while fielding during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney, may also miss the initial matches of IPL 2026.

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Serious Injury Timeline

Iyer sustained the injury on October 25 while attempting a catch during the third ODI in Sydney. What initially seemed like a minor blow escalated quickly, leading to hospitalization in the ICU and a medical procedure to stop internal bleeding. He was discharged on November 1 after specialists in Australia and India were satisfied with his initial recovery.

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Extended Recovery Plan

Back in Mumbai, Iyer remains under strict medical supervision. A recent ultrasonography (USG) test reviewed by Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala showed improvement, but doctors have advised him against any activity that puts pressure on his abdomen for at least another month.

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The rehabilitation plan is cautious:

Current status: Restricted to light exercise only; no abdominal strain allowed.

Next checkpoint: Another USG scan in two months (around January 2026).

Return to play: Only after the second scan will a decision be made on whether he can join the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for full rehabilitation.

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This timeline confirms he will miss:

ODI series vs South Africa (starting Nov 30)

ODI series vs New Zealand (January 2026)

T20 World Cup 2026 (February-March)

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Impact on IPL 2026

The extended recovery period puts Iyer’s participation in the start of IPL 2026 in serious doubt. As captain of Punjab Kings, his absence would be a significant blow to the franchise. Reports suggest he might only be fit to return midway through the tournament, depending on how his body responds to increased workload in March.

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India’s Vice-Captaincy Void

Iyer’s absence leaves a leadership void in India’s ODI setup, where he was recently appointed vice-captain. With captain Shubman Gill also battling a neck injury, India face a leadership crisis ahead of the South Africa series, potentially forcing selectors to look at stop-gap options like KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant.

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A realistic target for Iyer’s international comeback appears to be the white-ball series against Afghanistan in June 2026.

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