Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a Sydney hospital after suffering a horrific injury during the recent third ODI against Australia. Iyer ended up hurting his rib cage while completing a difficult catch at backward point to remove Alex Carey. The India ODI vice-captain was in extreme pain immediately after the attempt and was tended to by the team physio on the field before trudging off the field on Saturday.

He was soon rushed to the hospital after returning to the Indian dressing room. According to a timesofindia.com report, Iyer’s blood pressure was alarmingly low.
“Shreyas has been in the ICU for the past couple of days. After the reports came in, internal bleeding was detected, and he had to be admitted immediately," news agency PTI quoted a source privy to the development as saying."He will remain under observation for anywhere between two to seven days, depending on recovery, as one needed to stop the spread of infection due to bleeding," he added.

The BCCI medical team acted swiftly after Iyer’s vital parameters fluctuated upon his return to the dressing room.

“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 added.

Initially, Iyer was expected to be out of action for about three weeks, but the recovery period may now be longer.

“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 said.

The 31-year-old is expected to remain in the Sydney hospital for at least a week before being declared fit to travel back to India. He had scored a fine half-century in the second ODI after being dismissed for 11 in the series opener.

The Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will now face Australia in a five-match T20I series from Wednesday. Iyer is not part of the T20 squad.