Shreyas Iyer dived to stop a ball in the covers during the first ODI against England in Pune and hurt his shoulder. The 26-year-old walked off the field in pain and was taken for scans. His availability for the rest of the series is unknown.
India recorded a superb come from behind win in the first ODI and took a series lead in this three-match ODI rubber against England. At one stage, they were 205/5 in 40 overs, and it looked like they could finish with a sub-300 score. But blistering half-centuries from KL Rahul and debutant Krunal Pandya helped the hosts finish with a big flourish and took India to 317.
With the ball, Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy helped England get off to a flying start. At a certain stage, they were 135 without any loss in a mere 14.1 overs. The Indian bowling attack made a terrific comeback to shoot England out for just 251, which saw India go 1-0 in the series.
However, there are a couple of injury concerns for India. It wasn’t a great sight when Shreyas Iyer lay in pain after stopping the ball in the covers during the eighth over of England’s run chase in the first ODI in Pune.
It was a fierce cover drive from Jonny Bairstow off Shardul Thakur on the fourth ball of the eight over. Iyer dived across in the covers to stop the ball but ended up hurting his left shoulder as he dived. He walked off, holding his shoulder after being on the ground for a while. The Mumbai-born batsman didn’t take field for the rest of the game.
BCCI provided an update on Iyer, stating that Dehli Capitals cricketer subluxated his left shoulder and has been taken for further scans.
Shreyas Iyer subluxated his left shoulder in the 8th over while fielding. He has been taken for further scans and won’t take any further part in the game,
BCCI had tweeted during the first ODI.
Iyer had scored just six off deliveries while India’s batting, and was dismissed by Mark Wood. However, Iyer has been in good form with the bat, and he has consistently punched above his weight. After a sub-par tour to Australia where he scored 59 runs in three ODIs and 12 runs in two T20Is, Iyer roared back into form. He smashed a couple of hundreds in four games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and he was the second-highest run-getter for India in the five-match T20I series against England – 121 runs at an average of 40.33 and a strike-rate of 145.78.
His availability for the rest of the series will be revealed once the reports come from the scans. He could miss the Indian Premier League as well, which is due to start on the 9th of April.
- India will be sweating over Rohit Sharma’s injury as well. The Indian vice-captain was hit on his right elbow by a 148 kmph delivery from Mark Wood in the fifth over. He didn’t field for the entire innings either.
- Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant are the frontline batsmen who are in the squad. The former two might be in line to replace Rohit and Iyer if they are ruled out.