Shreyas Iyer is likely to be ruled out of the South Africa series; Forced to stay in Australia

Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer might be ruled out of the series against South Africa, as he is likely to stay back for a longer period in Sydney to recover from his rib injury. The batter sustained a painful injury to his ribs during the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 

Shreyas Iyer sprinted back and lunged onto the ball, diving as the crowd erupted in loud cheers once the player completed the catch successfully, which broke the partnership between Matt Renshaw and Alex Carey. Iyer, however, immediately clutched his ribs and was in visible pain when he walked out of the field and didn't return to bat. 

Shreyas Iyer to stay in Sydney until further clearance 

Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer was named the vice-captain of the Indian side; however, he never looked engaged in the context of the game, as skipper Shubman Gill often involved the two former skippers, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, in his conversations and never actually had his vice-captain talking. 

 As per reports from PTI, Shreyas Iyer was taken to a Sydney hospital midway through the match for scans, and the initial diagnosis revealed that there was a jerk and no fracture had occurred. The jerk, however, reportedly would keep him out of action for some time.  

Though the designated time frame is yet to be revealed by the BCCI, some RevSportz reports have disclosed that Shreyas will have to stay back at Sydney until he is handed the clearance to travel back home. Once he returns, he will have to report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further assessment. 

“He will have to report to the Centre of Excellence on his return. Further reports are awaited before one can conclude if he will require more time for recovery. If it is a hairline fracture, then it might take longer,” a BCCI source privy to the development told PTI on condition of anonymity.

"It is too early to say. If it is three weeks before RTP (Return To Play), then there is a chance that it could be touch and go before November 30," the source added on Shreyas Iyer's possible participation in ODI matches of the South Africa tour. 

Indian all-rounder makes shocking comeback ahead of Australia T20Is

As per the latest reports from Vijay Tagore, Nitish Kumar Reddy, the all-rounder picked as Hardik Pandya's replacement in the Australia tour, who missed out on the final ODI due to a quadriceps injury, is set to make a possible return ahead of the T20I series. 

 As per Cricbuzz reports, the injury is not serious enough to keep him out of participation in the upcoming tour. The Indian contingent part of the T20I series has moved to Canberra, and Reddy, too, is part of the group of men. 

The BCCI said, "Nitish Kumar Reddy sustained a left quadriceps injury during the second ODI in Adelaide and was subsequently unavailable for selection for the third ODI. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring him on a daily basis." They are yet to drop a time frame for his return, though. 

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