India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is recovering in a Sydney hospital after sustaining a serious injury during the third and final ODI against Australia on October 25. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed in a statement that Iyer suffered a laceration injury to his spleen while fielding.
The incident occurred when Iyer took a diving catch to dismiss Alex Carey at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Though the catch was successful, he immediately appeared in pain and was helped off the field before being taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
According to the BCCI’s medical update, Iyer sustained an impact injury to his left lower rib cage region and remains medically stable and recovering well. The board stated that its medical team, in consultation with specialists in Sydney and India, is closely monitoring his condition. The Indian team doctor will stay in Sydney to oversee his day-to-day progress.
According to media reports, the injury could have been life-threatening had it not been for the BCCI medical team’s swift intervention. Reports suggest Iyer was briefly placed in the ICU due to internal bleeding caused by the spleen injury. Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, head of the ICC Medical Committee and the BCCI Medical Panel, was reportedly sent Iyer’s scans from Sydney and later praised the medical staff for their timely response, which, he noted, saved Iyer’s life.
The Mumbai batter, a key part of India’s middle order, will remain under observation for a few more days. His return to cricket will depend on medical clearance and his recovery timeline.
