Confirming his return to domestic cricket, Shreyas Iyer was on Monday appointed captain of the Mumbai team for ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. He will take over from Shardul Thakur, who has been ruled out of the domestic 50-over tournament due to an injury.
“The MCA is pleased to announce that Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as the captain of the Mumbai senior men’s team for the remaining league matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy,” the association said on Monday.
Iyer’s participation beyond the league stages of the Vijay Hazare Trophy could be subject to clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence, with the batter included in India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting in Baroda on January 11. The first ODI is scheduled just a day before the VHT knockout stage begins on January 12.
While announcing the ODI squad, the BCCI had clarified that Iyer’s selection was subject to a fitness assessment, following which he would link up with the national side if cleared. If Iyer is cleared for international return, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) will need to appoint a new captain for the knockout phase of the premier domestic 50-over tournament.
Iyer has been sidelined for over three months after undergoing surgery in Australia for a spleen injury sustained during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney last October, when he fell while attempting a catch.
Mumbai’s next league fixture, scheduled for Tuesday, will mark his return to competitive cricket. Mumbai are currently placed second in Group C and are well positioned to qualify for the knockouts. They face Himachal Pradesh on January 6 and Punjab on January 8, with both matches to be played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.