Shreyas Iyer has scored 72 runs at a strike rate of 71.2 in the ongoing Australia vs India ODI series.
India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer suffered another injury just as things seemed to be falling into place for him again. The stylish right-hander, who found form during the recently concluded Australia series, now faces a race against time to be fit for the upcoming ODIs against South Africa which begin on November 30 in Ranchi.
How Shreyas Iyer got injured
The incident took place during the third ODI in Sydney when Iyer dove to catch Alex Carey off the bowling of Harshit Rana. As he completed the catch, he landed awkwardly on his left side and immediately clutched his ribs in pain. It was an incredible effort from Iyer as it is never easy for a player to run behind and catch the ball. India are one of the worst teams fielded since 2023, but Iyer is not one of the reasons.
The team’s physiotherapist Kamlesh Jain rushed to the field and helped him off. Initially, it looked like a hip problem, but scans later confirmed that Iyer had suffered an injury to his left rib cage. The BCCI quickly issued a statement saying: “Shreyas Iyer sustained an injury to his left ribcage while fielding. He was taken to hospital for further assessment and evaluation of his injury.“
Shreyas Iyer injury update
A BCCI source later told PTI that Iyer could be out for at least three weeks.
“Shreyas was taken to the hospital for tests during the match itself. According to the initial diagnosis, there was a jolt and he will have to be out of action for at least three weeks. He will have to report to the Center of Excellence upon his return. Further reports are awaited before it can be concluded whether he will need more time to recover. If it is a hairline fracture, it could take longer.“, the source revealed.
Asked about his availability for the South African series, the official added: “It’s too early to tell. If it’s three weeks before RTP (Return To Play), then there’s a chance it’ll be touch and go before November 30..”
How crucial is Iyer for India’s ODI setup?
For India, Iyer’s absence would have been massive if he was certain to miss some matches. After all, the 30-year-old has been one of the most consistent players at fourth since 2022, ending the country’s long search for stability at the position. He scored 1430 runs at an average of 55 and a strike rate close to 100 ranked fourth during this period. Even in the second ODI in Adelaide, Iyer looked fluent, scoring 61 with a new side stance.
Although reports indicate he could be out for at least three weeks, it all depends on the nature of the injury. If he suffers a hairline fracture, he may have to miss the three-match home ODI series against South Africa next month.
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