Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer is now stable after a terrifying on-field injury during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney on Saturday. The incident led to severe internal bleeding and required emergency ICU care.
Shreyas Iyer
The 30-year-old suffered a spleen laceration while diving forward to catch Alex Carey. What initially seemed like a minor rib injury quickly escalated. Iyer’s body vitals dropped sharply in the dressing room, necessitating an immediate rush to Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital. Doctors later confirmed he had sustained a blunt abdominal impact, resulting in a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding.
The BCCI confirmed the diagnosis in a statement on Tuesday: “The injury was promptly identified, and the bleeding was immediately arrested. His condition is now stable, and he continues to be under observation. A repeat scan on October 28 has shown significant improvement. The BCCI Medical Team, in consultation with specialists in Sydney and India, will continue to monitor his progress.”
Iyer’s condition was initially life-threatening. Sources revealed that his blood pressure had plummeted to “alarmingly low levels” before medical professionals swiftly intervened to control the bleeding. He was then moved to the ICU and underwent a non-surgical medical procedure to stop the hemorrhage.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia noted that Iyer’s recovery is progressing faster than expected.
“Shreyas is much, much better. His recovery has been much faster than what doctors anticipated. He didn’t undergo surgery but a different procedure. He’s stable, out of ICU, walking, and eating normally now,” Saikia stated.
The BCCI is also making arrangements for Iyer’s sister, Shresta Iyer, to travel to Sydney to be by his side. Dr. Rizwan Khan, the board’s medical representative, continues to oversee his treatment.
India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav provided an update from Canberra, saying: “We spoke to him the first day we found out. He’s been replying to messages and talking normally, which means he’s doing fine. The doctors there are taking good care of him.”
Medical experts categorize a spleen laceration as a delicate and potentially fatal injury due to the spleen’s highly vascular nature. Severe internal bleeding can occur, making rapid diagnosis and control paramount.
Iyer, who has scored 496 runs in 11 ODIs this year, is expected to remain under observation for at least a week. Consequently, he may miss India’s upcoming South Africa ODI series, scheduled to begin on November 30.
For now, cricket fans worldwide can breathe a sigh of relief. Shreyas Iyer’s vitals are stable, the bleeding has been successfully controlled, and his recovery in Sydney is well underway.