Shreyas Iyer out of ICU after near-fatal injury, condition stable

India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, who suffered a ruptured spleen and rib cage injury during the third ODI against Australia, has been shifted out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a Sydney hospital and is now in a stable condition, easing concerns over his health.

“He has been shifted out of the ICU and may take a few more days before being discharged from the hospital in Sydney,” a BCCI source privy to the development said on condition of anonymity.

Iyer sustained a lower left rib cage injury while attempting a difficult running catch to dismiss Alex Carey off Harshit Rana’s bowling. Though he initially walked off the field with assistance from the physio, his condition later deteriorated as his vital parameters dropped, prompting immediate hospitalisation.

Subsequent tests revealed internal bleeding caused by a laceration in the spleen, following which he was admitted to the ICU for close monitoring.

“Now see, we are not doctors. When we saw from outside, when the catch was taken (by Shreyas), it looked normal,” said India’s T20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav on the eve of the first T20I against Australia in Canberra.

“But none of us were there; only those present can tell what actually happened. Later, doctors said it needed serious attention, and he was rushed to a specialist.

“When we spoke to him later and he was talking normally, we felt that it is a little better now. The doctors and physios told us it was an unfortunate incident, which happens rarely. But sometimes rare incidents happen to rare talent.”

It is understood that BCCI’s head of medical services, Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, commended the on-field medical staff for their swift and efficient response, which helped avert a potentially critical situation.

“God is on his side. He is recovering really well, doctors are supporting him, and the BCCI is in full support. He will recover soon and then we will take him home with us,” Suryakumar added.

Meanwhile, sources indicated that Iyer’s family members are expected to travel to Sydney soon to be by his side as he continues to recover.