Shreyas Iyer’s journey back to the international arena has been nothing short of inspiring. The Indian batter had earlier suffered a serious rib injury while fielding against Australia, an incident that was severe enough to require ICU care due to internal complications. Rib injuries are often career-threatening, but Iyer made a strong recovery, proved his fitness through domestic cricket, and earned his return to the national side.
On his comeback, Iyer left no doubts about his physical readiness, especially in the field.
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India won the toss and elected to field first against New Zealand. The visitors began steadily, but momentum shifted sharply as wickets started falling at regular intervals. A major turning point came through Iyer’s exceptional athleticism, which has since become the talking point on social media.
The Run-Out that changed the game
With New Zealand five wickets down and nearing the 200-run mark, captain Michael Bracewell was batting alongside Daryl Mitchell. In the 43rd over, Mitchell played a shot towards long-on and the pair looked set to complete an easy second run.
However, Iyer had other ideas.
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Positioned perfectly, he picked up the ball and unleashed a flat, powerful throw that crashed directly into the non-striker’s end. Bracewell was caught short of his crease, resulting in a stunning run-out that shifted the balance decisively in India’s favour. The precision and speed of the throw quickly went viral, earning widespread praise.
Back at his Best
Widely regarded as one of India’s finest fielders—often ranked just behind Ravindra Jadeja—Iyer’s return to peak form has been impressive. While players often take time to regain sharpness after serious injuries, Iyer defied expectations. His agility, reflexes, and confidence on the field suggested no lingering effects, underlining a successful and complete comeback.
