India’s vice-captain, Shreyas Iyer, suffered a concerning injury during Saturday’s third One-Day International against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The incident unfolded in the 34th over of Australia’s innings when Alex Carey mistimed a shot.
Iyer, positioned at backward point, bravely sprinted towards the ball and leaped to complete a crucial catch, breaking a 59-run partnership. However, his landing was awkward, putting immediate strain on his left side. The 30-year-old remained on the ground in visible pain as his teammates quickly gathered around him. Medical staff promptly attended to him on the field before he was escorted off by a support member.
Carey, who had been given a lifeline earlier when Prasidh Krishna dropped him off Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling, departed for 24 runs off 37 balls. Iyer’s injury adds to India’s growing list of fitness concerns on this Australian tour. Earlier in the day, captain Shubman Gill announced at the toss that both Nitish Kumar Reddy and Arshdeep Singh were unavailable, leading to Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav being included in the playing XI.
The BCCI later clarified that Nitish Kumar Reddy had sustained a left quadriceps injury during the second ODI in Adelaide and was under medical observation. The 22-year-old had a challenging match, scoring only eight runs and failing to take a wicket in his three-over spell. Although Arshdeep’s absence wasn’t officially detailed, the left-arm pacer was visibly cramping and required medical attention during the previous match.
In a subsequent update, the BCCI confirmed that the vice-captain’s injury was to his left rib cage while fielding. He has been transferred to a hospital for comprehensive evaluation and assessment. The Indian team now anxiously awaits further reports on Iyer’s condition as they continue to navigate a tour plagued by multiple fitness setbacks.