Indian batter Shreyas Iyer was rushed to a hospital in Sydney after sustaining a severe rib injury during the third ODI against Australia on October 25, 2025. The injury occurred when he took a diving catch to dismiss Alex Carey. While attempting the catch, Iyer appeared to hurt his left rib cage.

After returning to the dressing room, he complained of sharp pain and discomfort, prompting the medical staff to act quickly. He was taken to the hospital for detailed scans and evaluation.

BCCI Confirms Spleen Laceration and Monitoring

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Iyer suffered a laceration injury to his spleen. According to the board’s statement, he remains medically stable and is under close observation.

“Shreyas Iyer sustained an impact injury to his left lower rib cage region while fielding during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney on 25th October 2025. He was taken to the hospital for further evaluation,” the BCCI said.

The statement further added, “Scans have revealed a laceration injury to the spleen. He is under treatment, medically stable, and recovering well. The BCCI Medical Team, in consultation with specialists in Sydney and India, is closely monitoring his injury status. The Indian Team Doctor will remain in Sydney with Shreyas to evaluate his day-to-day progress.”

Internal Bleeding Detected, Moved to ICU

According to a report by PTI, Iyer was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after scans revealed internal bleeding caused by the rib injury. A source told PTI, “Shreyas has been in ICU for the past couple of days. After the reports came in, internal bleeding was detected, and he had to be admitted immediately.”

The source added that he will remain under observation for two to seven days, depending on how quickly he recovers. “The team doctor and physio didn’t take any chances and took him to the hospital immediately. Things are stable now, but it could have been fatal. He’s a tough lad and should be fine soon,” the source said.

Initially, Iyer was expected to be sidelined for about three weeks, but the internal bleeding may extend his recovery period. “Since there has been internal bleeding, he will certainly need more time to recover, and at this point, it’s difficult to put a definite timeline on his return to competitive cricket,” the source added.

Iyer’s Role and Recent Form

Shreyas Iyer, who was serving as the vice-captain of India’s ODI team under Shubman Gill during the Australian tour, had shown glimpses of form before the injury. After struggling in the first ODI, he bounced back with a gritty half-century in Adelaide. However, India lost that match.

In the final ODI, which India won by nine wickets, Iyer didn’t need to bat as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli guided the team to a dominant victory.

Injuries Continue to Disrupt Iyer’s Career

Iyer’s career has faced repeated setbacks due to injuries over the past year. He suffered a back issue during the Test series against England, which forced him to withdraw midway. Despite being cleared fit by the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Iyer still felt discomfort and skipped a Ranji Trophy match — a decision that led to the loss of his central contract.

He later underwent back surgery in the UK and returned to competitive cricket after months of rehabilitation. His strong domestic performances helped him earn a recall for the ODI series against England and the Champions Trophy.

However, recurring back spasms and stiffness troubled him again. Recently, Iyer informed the BCCI about his condition and requested a six-month break from red-ball cricket to focus on recovery and workload management.

“Mr Shreyas Iyer has informed the BCCI of his decision to take a six-month break from red-ball cricket. Having undergone back surgery in the UK and managed his recovery well, he has recently experienced recurring back spasms and stiffness while playing the longer format. He wishes to utilise this period to build endurance, body resilience and work on his fitness. In view of his decision, he was not considered for selection for the Irani Cup,” the BCCI stated.

What Lies Ahead

As Iyer continues his recovery in Sydney, the Indian team doctor remains by his side. His condition is stable, but the extent of his return will depend on how quickly he recovers from the internal injury.

His recent run of health challenges has raised concerns about his long-term fitness, but those close to him remain optimistic. If recovery goes as planned, Iyer could return to training in the coming months, though no specific timeline has been announced yet.