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New Delhi: A brilliant piece of fielding from Shreyas Iyer turned into a nightmare midway through the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He pulled off a stunning diving catch but walked off moments later in visible pain. The BCCI later confirmed that he had injured his left rib cage.
An official statement from the BCCI after the match read, “Shreyas Iyer sustained an injury to his left rib cage while fielding. He has been taken to the hospital for further evaluation and assessment of his injury.” The update confirmed the nature of the injury but it did not specify the extent of the damage, leaving fans anxious about his immediate recovery.
The incident unfolded in the 33rd over of Australia's innings when Alex Carey mistimed a short delivery from Harshit Rana. The ball flew off a thick top edge towards deep third, and Iyer, who was fielding at backward point, turned and sprinted back. Keeping his eyes on the ball all the way, he dived full length and completed a spectacular tumbling catch that had the SCG crowd on its feet.
Though the cheers echoed but the Sarpanch Sahab was clutching his ribs. The joy quickly turned into concern as the physio rushed in, followed by teammates, and after a brief on-field check, Iyer was helped off, grimacing and holding his side. The BCCI later confirmed that the right-hander has sustained a rib cage injury and was taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
For now, Iyer's availability to bat was ruled out as Men In Blue registered a convincing nine-wicket win. But the bigger concern lies ahead. With just over a month remaining before India’s three-match ODI series against South Africa, his injury could not have come at a worse time.
The 29-year-old has been one of India's most dependable middle-order batters in white-ball cricket and a crucial link in the transition between the top order and the finishers. Other than that he is also the vice-captain of the team which makes the setback even more significant.
Iyer just returned to full fitness after a back injury earlier this year, and now another trip to the treatment table is far from ideal. The BCCI medical team will assess his scans before deciding on the next steps but earlier signs suggest a cautious approach.
Iyer’s courage and commitment on the field once again stood out but this time it came at a heavy price. The hope within the camp will be that it’s nothing more than a minor setback with bigger battles still to come.
