BCCI Confirms India Vice-Captain’s Injury Ahead of South Africa Series News24 –

In a dramatic turn of events during the third and final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, October 25, India’s vice-captain, Shreyas Iyer, suffered an injury scare after taking a brilliant catch to dismiss Australia’s Alex Carey. The catch, which came in the 34th over of the Australian innings, was one of the highlights of the game. However, the injury overshadowed the brilliant fielding effort, leaving fans and teammates concerned.

Iyer, stationed at short third-man, reacted swiftly to a thick outside edge from Carey, who attempted to send Harshit Rana’s delivery into the stands. Iyer timed his run perfectly, sprinting backward to complete a stunning catch, but the momentum of his run caused him to land awkwardly on his left hip, resulting in a hard impact with the ground.

Focused on securing the ball, Iyer only felt the pain after completing the catch. He winced and struggled to stand up, prompting an immediate response from his teammates. As he limped, the Indian physios rushed onto the field to assess the situation. There was a brief delay in play as Iyer, visibly in discomfort, was helped off the field.

The BCCI later confirmed that Iyer had sustained an injury to his left rib cage, which led to him being taken to the hospital for further evaluation. As a precaution, Iyer did not return to the field for the remainder of Australia’s innings, and in his place, India’s reserve opener Yashasvi Jaiswal took the field.

UPDATE – Shreyas Iyer sustained an injury to his left rib cage while fielding. He has been taken to the hospital for further evaluation and assessment of his injury.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/UFffBiGxsF

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 25, 2025

India’s Clinical Performance Despite Injury Scare

Despite Iyer’s injury, India put on a clinical performance to bowl Australia out for 236 in 46.4 overs, keeping their hopes alive for a consolation win. While there was a drop from Prasidh Krishna, India’s fielding was otherwise sharp. Former captain Virat Kohli pulled off a sensational catch to dismiss Matt Short, showcasing his lightning-fast reflexes. Rohit Sharma also added to the highlights with a sharp catch in the slip.

On the bowling front, Harshit Rana was the standout performer with the ball, taking four crucial wickets to silence his critics. The young pacer’s brilliant display helped reduce Australia to a modest total, while off-spinner Washington Sundar chipped in with two wickets. Kuldeep Yadav, who made his return to the side, picked up one wicket.

Australia’s Inconsistent Batting

Australia, despite a solid fifty from Matt Renshaw, failed to capitalise on the starts from their other batters. The Indian bowlers maintained tight lines and made key breakthroughs at the right moments. No Australian batter was able to go on and make a big score, as they were eventually bowled out for 236, well short of what they would have hoped for to complete a series whitewash.

Shreyas Iyer’s Injury: A Setback in an Otherwise Dominant Performance

Iyer’s injury was a worrying moment for India, especially since the vice-captain had previously struggled with back issues. Just recently, he took an indefinite break from red-ball cricket to manage his workload, and this injury added another layer of concern. Hopefully, the injury is not too serious, but it will need to be carefully monitored ahead of future series.

Despite Iyer’s absence, India showed they have the depth and resilience to cope with challenges. With a strong bowling performance and some stunning fielding, the Men in Blue are in a good position to chase down the target in their own innings, even without one of their key players in the field.

Conclusion

The injury to Shreyas Iyer was a momentary cloud in what was otherwise a fantastic performance from India on the field. With clinical bowling and exceptional fielding, the team is in a strong position to chase down Australia’s total. If India can chase successfully, it would not only give them a consolation win but also restore some pride after a tough series. Fans will be hoping Iyer’s injury is not serious and that he returns to full fitness soon, as India looks ahead to their next challenges.