Indian cricket has been dealt a major blow as ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out for nearly two months after suffering a spleen injury during the third and final ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney last week.
The unfortunate incident, which occurred when Iyer was diving to complete a difficult catch, led to internal bleeding and the Indian middle-order batsman had to undergo an urgent medical procedure in Sydney. Thankfully, Iyer’s condition has now stabilized and he has been shifted out of the ICU.
Shreyas Iyer will be out of South Africa series after spleen injury
Doctors have advised complete rest, which means Iyer will miss India’s upcoming ODI series against South Africa next month. According to the report by RevSportz, Iyer will miss the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa in November-December at home.
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Additionally, the Indian vice-captain’s participation in another home series against New Zealand in January also seems uncertain, as he is unlikely to regain full match fitness in time.
This extended recovery period could seriously impact their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 prospects, with the Indian cricket team management expected to finalize its 15-man squad by January.
Breaking!
RevSportz believes that Shreyas Iyer is likely to be out for two months. India’s ODI vice-captain suffered a deep abdominal injury during the third ODI against Australia on 25 October, resulting in laceration of his spleen with internal bleeding.
– RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) 29 October 2025
If Iyer fails to make a comeback before then, his next appearance in Indian colors could only be during the white-ball series in England in July 2026. On the other hand, BCCI sources revealed that Iyer is not expected to return to competitive cricket before January 2026.
Doctors use an advanced trans-catheter procedure to save Shreyas Iyer from life-threatening injury
Recovery from his spleen injury will take longer than initially expected, and the medical team does not want to rush his return until he is fully fit and ready to play again.
Notably, the stylish right-handed batsman had to undergo a special medical procedure called “Interventional Trans-Catheter Embolization” to control internal bleeding from his injury.
In this procedure, doctors insert a catheter into an artery to block blood flow to stop bleeding and prevent further damage. If done on time this method helps in avoiding major surgery and faster recovery.
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Shreyas Iyer’s strange injury in SCG
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer suffered a life-threatening injury after taking a brilliant catch to dismiss Alex Carey during the third ODI against Australia. Running backwards at full speed, Iyer managed to complete the catch but crashed awkwardly onto the turf.
He began to feel visible pain due to the impact and the team physio rushed to his aid. Although Iyer initially walked off the field himself, his condition worsened as soon as he reached the dressing room. His vital signs reportedly declined rapidly, prompting the medical team to rush him to a Sydney hospital.
Scans revealed that he had an injury to his spleen, which had caused dangerous internal bleeding. Doctors immediately shifted Iyer to the ICU, where he had to undergo an emergency medical procedure to stop the bleeding. Fortunately, timely treatment stabilized the cricketer’s condition.
Later, BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia clarified that Iyer will not require major surgery, will only undergo a medical procedure. Shreyas Iyer is under observation as he continues his recovery in Sydney and the Indian batsman thanked his well-wishers for their support, love and prayers.