India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav says that Shreyas Iyer is recovering after sustaining what has been described in various media reports as a “life-threatening” injury. Surya says Iyer has been replying to him on the phone and is now in a stable condition.
Iyer was rushed to a Sydney hospital after his vital signs dropped to dangerous levels following a nasty fall on the field as he attempted to take a catch during the third ODI between India and Australia on Saturday. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and scans revealed internal bleeding due to laceration of the spleen.
Iyer has since been shifted from the ICU and is stable.
“We spoke to him,” Surya told reporters on Tuesday. “When we got to know about his injury, I called him.
Then I realised that Shreyas doesn’t have his phone on him, and I called our physio Kamlesh Jain, who told us that he’s stable.”
“(About how he was on the) First day, I can’t say much, but he’s looking good (now). We’ve been in touch for two days, and he’s been replying. If he’s able to reply on the phone, then he’s stable,” he added.
However, Surya added that Iyer will be kept under close observation for a few more days.
“Doctors are there with him; it’s looking good. Everything is normal, but he will be kept under observation for a few days. He’s been talking to everyone, so it’s good,” he said.
Surya further revealed how at first the team thought Iyer’s injury was normal before realising its severity once in the dressing room.
“See, we’re not the doctors. When we saw it from the outside, it appeared he was normal after taking the catch. Only those who were there (with him on the field) can say (how bad the injury was). After going into the dressing room, they realised he will need more care. Then he was rushed to a specialist who revealed what has happened. Eventually, he started talking normally,” he said.
Amid the concern over Iyer’s health, Surya managed to find some humour in it.
“Doctors and physios said it was an unfortunate injury; this is quite rare. Shreyas is also a rare talent. Rare incidents happen with rare talent. But it’s fine, God has been with him and he’s recovering well. BCCI is in full support, and we will take him home alongside,” he said with a smile.
