India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer marked his return to competitive cricket in emphatic fashion on Tuesday (January 6), producing a commanding knock for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26. Playing his first match in nearly three months, the 31-year-old right-hander led from the front in a must-win Elite Group C clash against Himachal Pradesh at the Jaipuria Vidhyalaya Ground in Jaipur.

Batting at No. 4, Iyer looked in complete control from the outset, scoring a fluent 82 off just 53 deliveries. His innings was laced with 10 boundaries and three towering sixes, underlining both timing and power. More importantly, the knock came at a crucial juncture, with Mumbai needing a strong performance to stay alive in the tournament.

Iyer stitched together an impressive 82-run partnership for the third wicket with Musheer Khan, who matched the intensity with a brisk 73 off 51 balls, including eight fours and three sixes. After Musheer’s dismissal, Iyer continued to anchor the innings, adding 65 runs for the fourth wicket with Suryakumar Yadav.

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Although Surya managed just 24 from 18 balls, the stand helped Mumbai maintain momentum despite periodic interruptions caused by dense fog, which delayed the match by over two hours.

Shreyas Iyer marked his return with a solid 82 against Himachal Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. ✨💪🏼

A timely and impressive comeback ahead of the ODI series against New Zealand. 🔥#VHT #ShreyasIyer #Cricket #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/D8UPa6V0mo

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) January 6, 2026

The innings held added significance for Iyer, whose selection in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming New Zealand series was subject to fitness clearance. His confident movement, shot selection, and ability to bat through pressure situations effectively put any lingering doubts to rest. The only remaining question is whether he completes a full fielding effort during Himachal Pradesh’s chase.

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Mumbai’s star-studded lineup, featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shivam Dube and Sarfaraz Khan, failed to convert their starts, with the trio scoring 15, 20 and 21 respectively. Jaiswal fell to Vaibhav Arora, while Surya was dismissed by Kushal Pal, and Abhishek M. Kumar accounted for Dube and Sarfaraz.

Powered by Iyer’s authoritative return, Mumbai posted a competitive 299 for nine in 33 overs. Iyer and Jaiswal are expected to travel to Vadodara shortly to join the Indian ODI squad, while Dube and Suryakumar will shift focus to the T20I series starting January 21.