Shreyas Iyer makes a well-deserved return to the T20I setup — what role, responsibility, and impact are expected from him in this format?
Shreyas Iyer last featured in a T20I in December 2023 against Australia. By then, he had notched up 1104 runs in 47 innings in the format, including eight half-centuries. However, the 18 months leading up to his omission weren’t particularly strong for the right-handed batter. Between June 2022 and the end of 2023, Iyer managed just 295 runs in 15 T20I innings, averaging 21.07 at a strike rate of 123.43, with only two half-centuries to his name.
However, a superb IPL 2025 season, along with a strong performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) for Mumbai, paved Shreyas’ way back to the national side. The BCCI selectors named the right-handed batter as a replacement for the injured Tilak Varma in the upcoming T20Is against New Zealand, starting on January 21. However, he will feature only in the first three games.
Shreyas Iyer’s dream run in T20s after January 2024
Since the beginning of 2024, Shreyas has earned massive success in the shortest format. Playing in the SMAT and the IPL, he cracked 1300 runs in 39 T20 innings at an average of 46.42. The 31-year-old also maintained a blistering strike rate of 169.49, thanks to nine half-centuries and one century with the best score of 130* runs.
Out of those, Shreyas’ 1151 T20 runs in 34 innings at 50.04 came at numbers three and four. Moreover, he collected those runs at a dominating strike rate of 171.49, scoring eight fifties and a century. His strike rate is the highest among the top 10 batters in the period.
Read More: Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026, which are the areas India need to address in T20I series against NZ?
Most T20 runs at number 3 and 4 in India since Jan 2024
| Player | Inns | Runs | Avg | SR | 50s/100s | HS |
| S Yadav | 49 | 1533 | 36.50 | 158.53 | 10/01 | 102* |
| S Iyer | 34 | 1151 | 50.04 | 171.49 | 08/01 | 130* |
| T Varma | 27 | 1075 | 48.86 | 150.56 | 08/01 | 151 |
| R Patidar | 35 | 1035 | 30.44 | 166.39 | 10/00 | 78 |
| R Parag | 33 | 1025 | 36.60 | 153.90 | 05/00 | 95 |
When it comes to victories, Shreyas’ average crosses 63 at number three and four in T20s at home. In 24 innings, he has recorded 895 T20 runs in winning causes at an average of 63.92 and a blistering strike rate of 176.52, thanks to six fifties and one century. Those numbers are just behind India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav’s 1061 runs at 42.44.
His return to the Mumbai side appeared to mark a turning point in his T20 career. Shreyas led the side to the title and finished the SMAT 2024/25 as the fourth-highest run-scorer. The veteran scored 345 runs at an average of 49.29 and a strike rate of 188.52.
Shreyas has also been excellent against both pacers and spinners in the T20s since the beginning of 2024. His average reaches an impressive 80 at a strike rate of nearly 150 against the spinners. This strengthens his case to bat at number three for India against New Zealand.
Shreyas Iyer’s T20 record against pacers and spinners since Jan 2024
| Inns | Runs | Outs | Avg | SR | 4s/6s | |
| Pacers | 33 | 671 | 20 | 33.55 | 168.17 | 61/37 |
| Spinners | 23 | 320 | 04 | 80.00 | 148.15 | 21/17 |
Even in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Shreyas has been the third leading run-getter while batting at number three and four since 2022, despite missing the entire 2023 season due to injury. The experienced campaigner has scored 1207 runs in 40 IPL innings during this period at a strike rate of 153.75.
When Punjab Kings (PBKS) finished runners-up last year, their captain, Shreyas Iyer, amassed 604 runs at a strike rate exceeding 175. Now, Shreyas will look to bring the same intensity and skill when he turns out for the T20Is against the Blackcaps.
Read More: Shreyas Iyer slams 82(53) on his return to competitive cricket; what’s the value he brings at no. 4?
Shreyas Iyer offers experience as SKY battles poor T20I form
Shreyas Iyer will replace Tilak in the T20I side, who has been India’s second leading run-getter (847) since the end of the T20 World Cup 2024. So, the responsibility will be massive from the start. Moreover, there is concern about Suryakumar Yadav’s form, who hasn’t scored a single T20I fifty since the beginning of 2025. Moreover, the skipper’s average has dipped to 13.62 during this period.
Despite being in good T20 form for a sustained period, Shreyas did not get opportunities earlier due to the presence of in-form alternatives. Now, with at least three matches at his disposal, he will be keen to make the most of the chances on offer.
With uncertainty surrounding Tilak’s fitness and his readiness ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, beginning on February 7, the window could prove timely for Shreyas. The BCCI may look to draft Shreyas into the 15-member squad, based on his performance against the Kiwis. He simply needs to focus on scoring runs, whether batting at number three or lower down the order. Moreover, his experience will handy in high-pressure situations.
Since the end of the T20 World Cup 2024, India have registered the most T20I victories (27) among Test-playing nations, raising expectations of fans and pundits alike. The upcoming series against New Zealand, however, will offer a clearer indication of where they currently stand in the format. The five-match T20I series against the Blackcaps begins on January 21, with the opening game scheduled at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.
Read More: Numbers show that Suryakumar Yadav has struggled versus pace in T20Is in 2025; What are the reasons?
