In the gentleman’s game, cricket, courage is often measured not just by the runs scored or wickets taken, but by how players stand tall after being knocked down. Over the years, Indian cricket has witnessed moments when pain, fear, and sheer willpower crashed on the 22 yards.
Recently, in the last ODI series, India's vice-captain Shreyas Iyer took a catch while fielding in the Sydney match. He injured his left rib as a result of a wrong landing. He collapsed in pain. Immediately, the physio came and picked him up from the field. He was then taken to a local hospital for a checkup. The team returned home from Australia, but Shreyas was unable to return. The BCCI decided to keep him in Sydney for treatment. He was admitted to the ICU of a hospital in Sydney due to a spleen injury; now he is out of the ICU, and his condition is stable.
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Here are the other 5 remarkable accidents on field of cricket
Dilip Vengsarkar (1983)
During a group match of the World Cup 1983, Dilip Vengsarkar was hit on the chin by a Malcolm Marshall bouncer and was ruled out for the rest of the tournament. He tried to bounce back, even after that, India won the World Cup.
Anil Kumble (2002)
Kumble was struck in the jaw by a Mervyn Dillon bouncer during a Test match in Antigua against the West Indies. He returned to bowl 14 consecutive overs despite having a fractured jaw and a heavily bandaged face. He even removed Brian Lara. His participation in the series was ended by the injury, but it also demonstrated his extraordinary bravery.
Navjot Singh Sidhu (1983–84)
During a Ranji Trophy match early in his domestic career, Sidhu was struck on the head by a rising delivery, causing a serious injury to his skull. He was sidelined for a long time and became wary of fast bowling as a result of the incident.
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Sourav Ganguly (2005)
While batting in a Test match against Pakistan in Kolkata, Ganguly was struck on the elbow by a delivery from Shoaib Akhtar. His form declined during that period due to the injury, which was serious enough to keep him out of multiple games.
Rishabh Pant (2022)
In the last Manchester test series against England, Rishav Pant suffered a foot injury from an inside edge reverse sweep by Chris Woakes. After that, he played and made a half-century to add crucial runs to the team’s score. He previously met a horrific car accident while returning home from Delhi. The injuries from that accident also kept him out of cricket for over a year, severely impacting his career trajectory.
Every bruise from these injuries tells a story: of grit, of resilience, and of a love for the game that goes beyond reason. These injuries didn’t just test their bodies; it tested their courage and character.
