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Shreyas Iyer‘s return to India‘s T20I squad for the first three matches against New Zealand is a calculated move to secure a high-quality backup for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Following a serious injury to Tilak Varma, who recently underwent surgery, Iyer has been recalled to the T20I fold for the first time since December 2023.
While India already announced their provisional 15-member World Cup squad on December 20, the ICC deadline for final changes is January 31, 2026. Iyer, currently excluded from that final 15, has a golden window during this New Zealand series to prove he is the superior option should Varma fail to recover in time. With the World Cup set to begin in February on the spin-friendly tracks of India and Sri Lanka, Iyer’s inclusion ensures India isn’t left vulnerable in the middle order.
3 reasons why Shreyas Iyer’s selection for the IND vs NZ T20I series is a correct move
1. Dominant IPL 2025 form and high-octane strike rate
Iyer isn’t just returning on reputation; he is coming off a ‘career-best’ IPL 2025 season where he captained the Punjab Kings to the final. Iyer silenced critics who questioned his scoring rate in the shortest format by amassing 604 runs in 17 innings at a phenomenal average of 50.33. Most importantly, his strike rate skyrocketed to 175.07, a significant jump from his career T20I strike rate of 136.13. During the season, he struck 39 sixes and notched up six half-centuries, including a clinical 97* against Gujarat Titans. This version of Iyer, aggressive from ball one, is exactly what India needs to maintain momentum in the middle overs, especially if they lose early wickets.
2. The premier ‘spin-basher’ for subcontinent conditions
One of the primary reasons for Iyer’s recall is his unmatched ability to dominate spin in the middle overs, a phase where India has often stagnated. During IPL 2025, Iyer’s numbers against spin were elite: he scored 171 runs against slow bowlers at an average of 58.70 and a strike rate of 145.5.
In comparison, Tilak struggled slightly in this department during the same season, with his strike rate against spin dipping to 121.84. With New Zealand deploying seasoned campaigners like Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi, Iyer’s ability to dance down the track and clear the ropes makes him a tactical ‘must-have.’ His recent form in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where he was India’s top scorer with 243 runs (Avg: 48.60), further proves he is in the zone to handle international pressure.
3. Vital insurance ahead of the January 31st deadline for T20 World Cup 2026
With Tilak Varma ruled out of the T20I series for the first three fame following surgery and his World Cup participation in doubt, the series against New Zealand serves as a final ‘audition’ for Iyer, with Suryakumar Yadav also not in his best form. Varma has been a sensation, averaging 49.29 in T20Is, but his lack of match fitness just weeks before the World Cup is a major concern.
By picking Iyer for the first three T20Is (Jan 21, 23, and 25), the selectors are giving him a platform to demonstrate that he can fill the void. If Iyer replicates his IPL heroics, the team management has until the January 31st deadline to swap him into the final World Cup squad. His experience of 51 T20Is and his leadership pedigree (leading KKR to a title in 2024 and PBKS to a final in 2025) make him the most reliable “Plan B” India could possibly ask for.
