India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is on the verge of achieving a major personal milestone during the second One Day International against New Zealand. If Iyer manages to reach the landmark, he will surpass Indian greats Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan in a significant record.
Shreyas made his return to international cricket in the first ODI against New Zealand. In the match played in Vadodara, he scored 49 runs off 47 balls, hitting four boundaries and one six.
Impressive ODI Record
In 68 ODI innings, Shreyas Iyer has scored 2,966 runs at an impressive average of 47.83, including five centuries and 23 half-centuries. He now needs just 34 more runs to become the fastest Indian batter to reach 3,000 ODI runs.
At present, the record belongs to Shikhar Dhawan, who reached the 3,000-run mark in 72 innings, while Virat Kohli achieved the feat in 75 innings.
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Chance to Match Viv Richards’ Record
If Shreyas completes 3,000 ODI runs in the second match, he will become the fourth fastest batter in the world to reach the milestone, equalling the legendary Sir Vivian Richards. Overall, the fastest to 3,000 ODI runs remains South Africa’s Hashim Amla, who achieved the feat in just 57 innings.
In the first ODI against New Zealand, Shreyas also played a key role in India’s successful chase of 301 runs, sharing a 77-run partnership for the third wicket with Virat Kohli.
Comeback After Injury
Shreyas Iyer had suffered an injury during India’s tour of Australia last year, which kept him out of action for some time. He made his return by playing domestic cricket in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Mumbai. Leading the side against Himachal Pradesh, he scored 82 runs off 53 balls while batting at number four.
He showed no signs of discomfort during his innings and successfully proved his fitness. Following the match, Shreyas received clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (COE), allowing him to participate in the New Zealand ODI series.
The second ODI between India and New Zealand will be played on Wednesday, with the Indian team aiming to seal the series.