Shreyas Iyer has revealed the extent of the physical toll his serious injury took on him, saying he lost around 7 kgs during recovery and had to work hard to rebuild himself before returning to competitive cricket. The Punjab Kings had suffered a spleen injury during India’s ODI tour of Australia in October 2025, an episode that kept him out for weeks and forced a long recovery before he could resume cricket.
Speaking ahead of the new IPL season, Iyer described how demanding that period had been. “It’s always challenging to come back after an injury. I had lost around 7kgs due to the injury, it was a severe one. Thankfully, I was back in good shape after two months. But gaining those 7 kgs back took a lot of effort. I enjoy challenges, and that was one I had to overcome. I’m glad I came through that phase and am back representing my team, and also having represented India in the previous series. I feel proud of myself,” Iyer told reporters in the pre-season press conference.
His statement carries more weight when placed against the timeline of his setback. Iyer was injured in the third ODI against Australia in Sydney in October 2025, with the injury later confirmed as a spleen issue with internal bleeding. He eventually returned to action in early January, giving him barely enough time to recover rhythm and physical sharpness before the IPL build-up began.
Shreyas Iyer focused on winning the IPL with PBKS
Shreyas Iyer repeated the physical challenge of that phase, underlining how difficult the comeback had been. “It is always challenging to come back after an injury. I had lost around seven kilos, and it took a lot of effort to gain that weight back.”
Now, though, his focus has shifted fully from recovery to ambition. Leading the Punjab Kings into IPL 2026, Iyer made it clear that he is embracing both pressure and expectation. “Expectations are high, which is fun. I love the challenge. But the important thing is that whenever we step in, we have to win. My eye is on the trophy,” he added.
He also pointed to the role of dressing-room culture during a long tournament, saying, “This is the period where we live as a family for two months,” while stressing that off-field bonding can shape on-field performance.
For the Punjab Kings, their captain being fit and mentally reset is great news. After a severe injury and a slow climb back, Iyer is entering IPL 2026 with the recovery behind him and the trophy firmly in sight.
