India vice-captain Shreyas Iyer's availability for the three-match ODI series against South Africa, starting 30 November, remains uncertain. Iyer, who recently returned from Australia, continues to recover from a health setback that saw his oxygen levels drop dangerously during training.
Medical staff have advised the Board of Control for Cricket in India that Iyer will need more than a month to regain full match fitness. That timeline puts his participation in the South Africa ODIs in serious doubt, with the series beginning in less than three weeks.
A worrying setback
The drop in oxygen levels during training was serious enough to sideline Iyer from full activity, and his recovery is being monitored closely by the medical team. The advice that he needs more than a month to regain full match fitness suggests the setback was not a minor one, and the team management will not rush him back.
Iyer's absence would be a blow for India, given his role as vice-captain and his experience in the middle order. The ODI series follows the two-match Test series beginning 14 November, with fixtures in Ranchi, Raipur and Visakhapatnam.
The timing is awkward for the team, with the South Africa series coming close on the heels of the New Zealand tour. Iyer's fitness will be assessed again as the series approaches, but the current medical advice points against a quick return.
Who could fill the void
Rinku Singh or Tilak Varma may fill the void if Iyer is ruled out, according to the bulletin. Both are young batters who have been part of India's white-ball plans, and either would get a chance to stake a claim in the middle order.
The final call on Iyer will rest with the medical staff and the selectors, who will weigh his recovery against the risk of rushing him back. For now, the vice-captain remains doubtful, and India may have to plan the South Africa ODIs without him.
