India’s One-Day International (ODI) cricket vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has made a remarkable recovery after a near-fatal injury suffered during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney.
The 29-year-old batter was hospitalised with a lacerated spleen and internal bleeding, but doctors have now confirmed that he is out of danger and recovering well, reported the Times of India.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Oct 28 that Shreyas did not undergo surgery, as reported by sections of the media, but was treated through a different medical procedure that helped arrest the bleeding swiftly.
“Shreyas didn’t have surgery but went through a different procedure, which is why he recovered so quickly,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clarified. “He is talking, smiling, and already joking with the nurses.”
Shreyas sustained the injury while attempting a catch to dismiss Alex Carey during the Sydney ODI on Oct 25. Running backward from point, he took the catch cleanly but immediately clutched his rib cage and signalled for medical attention. Initial scans revealed what doctors feared could be a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding.
The BCCI medical team, led by Dr Rizwan Khan, responded swiftly and moved Shreyas to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a Sydney hospital.
“The injury was promptly identified, and the bleeding was immediately arrested,” Mr Saikia said. “His condition is now stable, and a repeat scan done on Oct 28 showed significant improvement.”
While reports initially suggested Shreyas Iyer had undergone surgery, BCCI officials were quick to dismiss them. “His recovery has been much faster than what the doctors expected,” Mr Saikia said, adding that the player remains under observation and could take six to eight weeks for full recovery.
Team sources say Shreyas has resumed normal activities. “He has started doing routine chores and is in great spirits,” said a BCCI medical team member stationed with him in Sydney.
India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, who has been in regular contact with Shreyas, shared a heartening update. “He’s recovering well, replying to us on the phone – that means he is doing absolutely fine,” Suryakumar said. “The doctors are taking good care of him. He will be monitored for a few more days, but there’s nothing to worry about.”
Before his injury, Shreyas had been in solid form, scoring a crucial 61 in the second ODI and forging a 118-run partnership with Rohit Sharma to help India post a competitive total. His recent performances had cemented his place in India’s ODI middle order.
For now, the focus is on recovery, not cricket. “He’s stable, cheerful, and already asking about the next series,” said a team official. “That’s Shreyas for you – a fighter with a smile.”
If his progress continues at the current pace, Shreyas is expected to return home within a few weeks and could potentially be fit for India’s ODI series against South Africa, starting Nov 30 in Ranchi.
RELATED STORIES
15 Oct 2025 12:49
