“It was painful, excruciatingly painful," said Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer on his experience recovering from the disastrous spleen laceration during India's ODI series in Australia on October 25.
He mentioned how he realised the gravity of the injury and the importance of an organ that he was not aware of its functionality, during the recovery period.
"I didn’t realise how tough that injury was until I got to know that spleen is an important part of our body and it’s an organ and I didn’t even know about the word," he said in a chat with broadcasters ahead of the second ODI against New Zealand in Rajkot.
What is a spleen?
The spleen is an organ located on the left side of the rib cage, just above the stomach. It stores and filters blood and helps produce white blood cells that protect the body from infection.
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According to Mayo Clinic, a forceful blow to the stomach causes a rupture of the spleen. Without emergency treatment, the internal bleeding caused by a ruptured spleen can be life-threatening.
Iyer’s injury occurred in late October 2025 during the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Initial assessments suggested a rib injury, but scans soon confirmed a laceration to his spleen, accompanied by internal bleeding — a serious condition that required immediate medical attention and close monitoring.
The cricketer acknowledged the medical experts in stabilising his condition and emphasised the importance of mental strength during his recovery. “But this injury especially gave me time to reflect upon myself, rejuvenate and also relax as much as possible because it’s not that you can get up and start working out straight away," he said.
Iyer also spoke about staying connected with his teammates, including regular communication with Virat Kohli, which has helped maintain his positive mindset throughout rehabilitation.
