In a big blow to Team India ahead of their three-match ODI Series against New Zealand, star batter and the highest run-getter in ODIs for the Men in Blue in 2022 Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out with a back injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed Madhya Pradesh batter Rajat Patidar as his replacement.

In an official statement released by the BCCI, it has been confirmed that the 28-year-old will be heading to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore for his recovery and rehabilitation.

In the most recent series against Sri Lanka, Shreyas scored 94 runs in the 3 innings at an average of 31.33 and a strike rate of 105.62. With him missing out on this series, Suryakumar Yadav, who was warming the benches in the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka, is expected to bat at his place.

UPDATE – Team India batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the upcoming 3-match ODI series against New Zealand due to a back injury.

Rajat Patidar has been named as his replacement.

More details here – https://t.co/87CTKpdFZ3 #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/JPZ9dzNiB6

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 17, 2023

Notably, despite having cemented his place in the T20I squad, Suryakumar hasn’t really set the stage on fire in One Day Internatianals. In 17 matches, he has accumulated 388 runs and is yet to reach his maiden ODI ton, having scored just two half-centuries. With him likely to get all three matches against the BlackCaps, the Mumbai Indians star would be determined to replicate his shortest format excellence in the 50-overs cricket for Team India.

India’s 3-match ODI series against the Kiwis will commence at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on January 18. The next two ODIs will be played in Raipur and Indore on January 21 and January 24 respectively.

India’s updated ODI squad against New Zealand: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KS Bharat (wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Rajat Patidar, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik.