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NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, batter Shreyas Iyer opened up about a tough phase in his career after suffering a serious spleen injury during the Australia tour. The injury forced him into hospital and led to significant weight loss. “It’s always challenging to come back after an injury. I had lost around 7 kg due to the injury, it was a severe one. Thankfully, I was back in good shape after two months. But gaining those 7 kg 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.
Despite the setback, Iyer worked hard to regain his fitness and return to competitive cricket. He resumed playing as Mumbai’s captain in domestic cricket and had mixed results afterwards, including a modest ODI series against New Zealand. Still, his focus remained on improving and leading from the front. Speaking again about his recovery, he said, “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. But I love challenges. I am glad I overcame that part of my life, and I am back here proudly representing the team.” Now leading Punjab Kings, Iyer is fully focused on winning the IPL trophy. “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 emphasised team bonding off the field, saying, “This is the period where we live as a family for two months,” and highlighted how spending time together helps performance.Teammate Arshdeep Singh echoed the positive energy, saying, “When you feel the pressure, it is a privilege.”
