India's current ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is currently in a Sydney hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after suffering internal bleeding from a rib cage injury that "could have been fatal".
The injury came after Iyer's brilliant catch at the third ODI against Australia on Saturday, where the batter was seen clutching his ribs in pain, seconds after securing the ball.
ALSO READ | Will Shreyas Iyer bat? Star India batter injured during Australia's innings in 3rd ODI
He reportedly suffered a "laceration injury to the spleen" while rolling onto his left side during the catch, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.
Iyer has since been confined to the ICU after internal bleeding was detected, and his vitals were dangerously low.
"He will remain under observation for anywhere between two to seven days depending on recovery, as one needed to stop spreading of infection due to bleeding," a PTI report said, citing an unnamed source.
The source echoed the BCCI statement, saying that Iyer was medically stable.
"The team doctor and physio didn't take any chances and took him to the hospital immediately ... He's a tough lad and should be fine soon," the source added.
The devastating injury has also cast doubt over the star Indian batter's eventual return to the field. Initially thought to be three weeks, the source explained that he would need "more time to recover, and at this point, it's difficult to put a definite timeline on his return to competitive cricket".
It will take at least a week for the 31-year-old to be declared physically fit to be flown to India. However, he will not be a part of the upcoming T20 squad.