Shreyas Iyer Returns as VC for NZ ODIs, Faces Fitness Test in Vijay Hazare Trophy

• Shreyas Iyer named vice-captain for the ODI series against New Zealand, but his participation is contingent on fitness clearance from the Centre of Excellence (COE).
• Iyer, recovering from a spleen laceration, must prove match fitness in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) this month.
• He successfully completed a controlled practice game on January 2, showing no discomfort, and is cleared to play for Mumbai BCCI on January 6.
• Hardik Pandya was not cleared by COE to bowl his full quota in VHT and has been excluded from the New Zealand series squad.
• Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj are included in the squad, while Ruturaj Gaikwad, despite a century in South Africa, has been left out.

Why It Matters: Shreyas Iyer's return to the India squad as VC depends on his fitness in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.