Shreyas Iyer Has Close Call With Fan’s Dog Ahead of ODI Comeback vs New Zealand

India batter Shreyas Iyer had a moment of surprise ahead of his much-anticipated return to international cricket after he narrowly avoided being bitten by a fan’s dog at an airport. The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, occurred just days before Iyer is set to make his comeback in the ODI series against New Zealand.

The video shows Iyer exiting the airport when a fan approaches him for an autograph. As usual, the India batter obliges with a smile. Moments later, another individual appears carrying a small dog. Iyer, in a friendly gesture, attempts to pet the animal, but the dog suddenly snaps towards him. Reacting quickly, Iyer steps back just in time, avoiding a bite. He is then seen walking away calmly, smiling and unfazed by the near miss.

The incident comes at a crucial time for Iyer, who is returning to action after a two-month injury layoff. The middle-order batter had been sidelined due to a spleen injury sustained during India’s tour of Australia. His absence had raised concerns about his fitness and availability for upcoming international fixtures, including the ODI series against New Zealand.

Iyer recently marked his return to competitive cricket in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, representing Mumbai. Leading the side and batting at No. 4 against Himachal Pradesh, he played an impressive knock of 82 off just 53 balls. The innings was significant not only for its fluency but also because it showed no visible signs of physical discomfort, easing concerns around his recovery.

Initially, the plan was for Iyer to feature in Mumbai’s subsequent match against Punjab on January 8 before being formally cleared for international duty. However, after closely monitoring his workload and movement, the Centre of Excellence medical staff were satisfied with his progress and decided to grant him clearance ahead of schedule.

In the following match against Punjab, Iyer continued his good form, scoring 45 off 34 balls. Despite his effort, Mumbai narrowly lost the match by one run while chasing a target of 217. Nevertheless, his back-to-back contributions reinforced confidence in his readiness for the international stage.

With his return, Iyer is expected to slot back into India’s middle order and resume his role as vice-captain in the ODI setup. His availability, however, has led to changes in the squad composition. During Iyer’s absence, Ruturaj Gaikwad impressed at No. 4, scoring his maiden ODI century in Raipur. Despite that performance, Gaikwad has made way for Iyer’s comeback. Additionally, the return of Shubman Gill has resulted in Yashasvi Jaiswal missing out, despite his century against South Africa earlier.

While the dog incident added an unexpected twist ahead of his comeback, Iyer remains focused on cricket, aiming to make a strong impact as India take on New Zealand in the three-match ODI series.