Shreyas Iyer’s Stunning Catch Against Australia Ends in Painful Injury at SCG

India’s vice-captain Shreyas Iyer produced one of the most spectacular moments of the third ODI against Australia in Sydney — but it came at a painful price. In the 34th over of Australia’s innings, Iyer’s full-stretch brilliance to dismiss wicketkeeper Alex Carey left fans cheering in awe and teammates worried as the star batter fell awkwardly and picked up what appears to be a rib or hip injury.

The incident unfolded when Carey tried to hit a rising delivery from Harshit Rana towards deep third. The ball went high up in the air, swirling awkwardly, and looked certain to land in no man’s land. Fielding at backward point, Iyer sprinted back at full pace, keeping his eyes locked on the ball. In one graceful motion, he leaped and caught it mid-air before tumbling hard onto his left side.

The dismissal ended a steady 59-run partnership between Carey and Matt Renshaw, but Iyer immediately showed signs of distress.

Painful Aftermath at Sydney

What began as wild applause for India’s best catch of the series soon turned silent as Iyer lay still on the turf, holding his ribs and grimacing in discomfort. Team physio Kamlesh Jain rushed to the field along with teammates Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to check on him. Despite receiving quick treatment, Iyer struggled to get up and was later escorted off the ground by medical staff as worried faces filled the Indian dugout.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued an update shortly after, confirming that Iyer had sustained an injury to his left rib cage and was taken to a local hospital for further scans and assessment.

Serious Injury Concerns

Initial medical reports suggested that Iyer suffered a rib cage contusion, but the complete extent of the injury will only be known after detailed scans. According to follow-up reports from The Sporting News and India Today, Iyer could be sidelined for at least three weeks, ruling him out of India’s upcoming ODI series against South Africa starting on November 30.

If it turns out to be a hairline fracture — something doctors are currently checking — the vice-captain might spend even longer on the sidelines. This would be a significant blow for India, especially with the T20I series against Australia commencing soon and preparations for next year’s Asia Cup beginning in January.

Another Setback for Team India

Iyer’s injury came just days after another casualty — young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy — was ruled out of the same match following a quadriceps strain. With Reddy unavailable, Kuldeep Yadav had returned to the squad in Sydney after being controversially left out of the first two ODIs.

The toll of back-to-back injuries has left India’s bench under pressure, with middle-order stability now a concern heading into the next leg of the tour.

Heroic Catch Amid Growing Injury List

Despite the injury, Shreyas Iyer’s catch was hailed as one of the most spectacular moments of the series. Social media was flooded with praise for the effort, with fans calling it “catch of the year.” However, many also expressed concern for the 30-year-old, who has had a history of back and shoulder injuries.

Iyer had earlier been one of India’s consistent performers in the series, scoring 61 runs in Adelaide and providing crucial middle-order stability while also serving as Shubman Gill’s deputy.

As the BCCI continues to monitor his recovery timeline, it’s clear that India will have to manage workloads more carefully moving forward — particularly in a packed international calendar leading up to the 2027 ODI World Cup.