Sydney: India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been admitted to a hospital in Sydney and is currently under intensive care following a serious rib cage injury sustained during the third ODI against Australia. The injury, which led to internal bleeding, occurred when Iyer ran backwards from backward point to take a brilliant catch to dismiss Alex Carey.
According to sources, Iyer experienced severe pain upon returning to the dressing room and his vital signs fluctuated, prompting the BCCI medical team to act swiftly. “The team doctor and physio didn’t take any chances and took him to the hospital immediately. Things are stable now, but it could have been fatal. He’s a tough lad and should be fine soon,” said a source close to the development.
Iyer has been in the ICU for the past couple of days as doctors monitor the internal bleeding and prevent potential complications. He is expected to remain in the Sydney hospital for at least a week before being cleared to travel back to India.
Originally, it was anticipated that Iyer would be out of action for approximately three weeks. However, with the discovery of internal bleeding, the recovery period is now uncertain. “Since there has been internal bleeding, he will certainly need more time to recover, and at this point, it’s difficult to put a definite timeline on his return to competitive cricket,” the source added.
Iyer, 31, is not part of India’s current T20 squad. The team management will closely monitor his condition and adjust leadership and squad plans accordingly, as the vice-captain’s absence is a significant setback ahead of upcoming fixtures.
This is not the first time Iyer has faced a major health challenge. Earlier in his career, he suffered a severe back injury that nearly ended his cricketing journey. The injury even caused paralysis in one leg temporarily and cost him a place in the BCCI’s central contract list. Despite this, Iyer made a successful comeback, demonstrating resilience and determination — qualities that will now be crucial in his current recovery.
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