Shreyas Iyer's Fitness Doubt for NZ ODIs; Ruturaj Gaikwad on Standby

• Shreyas Iyer, named vice-captain for the New Zealand ODI series, requires fitness clearance from BCCI's Centre of Excellence to play.
• Iyer, injured since October 2025, will play a Vijay Hazare Trophy match on January 6 to prove his fitness.
• If Iyer fails to get clearance, Ruturaj Gaikwad is reportedly the top contender to replace him in the squad.
• Gaikwad is currently in excellent form, captaining Maharashtra and scoring 124 and 66 runs in recent Vijay Hazare Trophy matches.
• The first ODI between India and New Zealand is scheduled for January 11 in Vadodara.

Why It Matters: Iyer's fitness is crucial for NZ ODIs; Gaikwad is a strong backup if needed.