Shreyas Iyer is on the verge of a major career milestone. India face New Zealand in the second One-Day International at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on January 14. The middle-order batter needs just 34 more runs to hit the 3,000-run mark in ODIs.
If he does it, he will beat Shikhar Dhawan’s record as the fastest Indian to reach the number. Right now, Iyer has 2,966 runs from 68 innings. He has a strong average of 47.83, including five centuries and 22 half-centuries. If the 31-year-old gets the runs in the next game, he will hit the mark in his 69th innings.
This would easily beat Dhawan’s 72 innings and Virat Kohli’s 75. This record shows how consistent Iyer has become. It also proves he is becoming a key leader in the batting lineup. Fans are excited about this record, which makes the Rajkot match even more interesting.
The pitch there usually helps batters play their shots. Experts say breaking this record proves Iyer can score quickly while still keeping the middle order steady. KL Rahul and Navjot Singh Sidhu are next on the list, having taken 78 and 79 innings respectively. These figures further show just how fast Iyer has scored since his debut. Everything is ready for the 31-year-old to make history in front of his home fans this Wednesday.
IND vs NZ: How did Shreyas Iyer perform in the first ODI?
Iyer comes into this game after playing well in the series opener at Vadodara. He looked sharp in his return to the national team after a long injury break. The Mumbaikar scored 49 runs in the first ODI, helping India chase down 301. He also put on a key 77-run partnership with Virat Kohli to stabilise the team after early wickets fell.
Kyle Jamieson got him out just before he reached fifty, but Iyer looked comfortable and fully fit. In addition to his batting, he fielded well by pulling off a quick run-out to get Michael Bracewell and catching Glenn Phillips at a vital moment. All these helped India keep New Zealand’s score down.
This game shows Iyer is back in form. The Punjab Kings skipper had a bad spleen injury against Australia in October 2025 and had to miss the home series in South Africa. He showed he was ready to return by playing well for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he scored 82 and 45. Iyer's quick success back with India shows why the selectors trust his skills. As India try to win the series in Rajkot, Iyer looks like he is in the right spot to help the team win and grab his personal record at the same time.
