Major blow for India! Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer sustains rib cage injury, faces race against time for South Africa series

BCCI has confirmed India’s vice-captain Shreyas Iyer’s injury concern ahead of the South Africa series. The update raises doubts about whether he will be able to participate in future matches, as the team management is closely monitoring his recovery process before making a final decision.

During the third and final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday (October 25), India’s vice-captain Shreyas Iyer faced an injury scare after taking a remarkable catch to dismiss Australia’s Alex Carey. This catch, which occurred in the 34th over of the Australian innings, stood out as one of the highlights of the game. However, the injury overshadowed Iyer’s impressive fielding skills, sparking concerns among fans and teammates alike.

Positioned at short third man position, Iyer reacted quickly to Carey’s outside edge as he attempted to send Harshit Rana’s delivery towards the stands. Iyer timed his run perfectly, rushing backwards to complete a stunning catch, but the force of his run caused him to land awkwardly on his left hip, resulting in a hard blow to the ground.

Iyer felt the pain only after catching the ball as he concentrated on defending the ball. He grimaced and tried to stand up, prompting an immediate reaction from his teammates. As he limped, Indian physiotherapists rushed to the field to assess the situation. Play was stopped briefly as Iyer, who was clearly in pain, was helped off the field.

BCCI later confirmed that Iyer sustained an injury to his left ribcage, which necessitated a trip to hospital for further evaluation. As a precaution, Iyer did not return to the field for the remainder of Australia’s innings, with India’s reserve opener Yashasvi Jaiswal stepping in.

UPDATE – Shreyas Iyer suffered an injury to his left ribcage while fielding. He was taken to the hospital for further assessment and evaluation of his injury.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/UFffBiGxsF

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 25, 2025

Despite Iyer’s injury, India put in an excellent performance, defeating Australia for 236 in 46.4 overs, keeping their hopes of a consolatory victory alive. Despite a drop from Prasidh Krishna, India’s fielding performance was quite sharp. Former skipper Virat Kohli showed his lightning-fast reflexes by taking a spectacular catch to dismiss Matt Short. Rohit Sharma also added to the highlights by taking a sharp catch at slip.

Iyer’s injury has raised alarm for India, especially considering the vice-captain’s history of back problems. He recently opted to take an indefinite break from red-ball cricket to better manage his workload and this latest injury has further raised concerns. It is hoped the injury is not serious, but will require close monitoring as the next series approaches.

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