The Indian cricket teams may have clinched victories in their last two games, but those triumphs came with moments that made fans’ hearts skip a beat. For both the men’s and women’s sides, the past week served as a grim reminder that behind the glory of cricket lies a constant undercurrent of danger.
At the Sydney Cricket Ground during the 3rd ODI against Australia, Shreyas Iyer put his body on the line for what looked like a game-changing catch. It was the kind of effort that defines commitment - running backwards, diving full stretch, eyes fixed on the ball, heart in the mouth.
The catch turned the game in India’s favour, but the aftermath left everyone shaken. Iyer lay on the ground, clutching his ribs, wincing in pain. Scans later revealed a serious rib injury, bad enough to land him in the ICU. The price of brilliance, as it turned out, was brutal.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the cricketing world, the Indian women’s team endured a scare of their own. In the Women’s World Cup match against Bangladesh, Pratika Rawal suffered a horrific ankle and knee twist while sliding near the boundary rope. The moment was gut-wrenching - her leg bent awkwardly, and she had to limp off with the help of medical staff.
Sadly, such on-field injuries are no longer isolated incidents. Over the past few seasons, cricket has seen a worrying rise in serious accidents - some freakish, some life-changing.
When Collision Turned Nightmarish
The Big Bash League once witnessed a shocking scene when Daniel Sams and Cameron Bancroft collided while attempting a catch. Both men went down instantly after a sickening head clash, lying motionless as teammates rushed in panic.
Bancroft walked off with help despite a broken nose and shoulder fracture, while Sams had to be stretchered off in a mini-ambulance. It was a reminder that even a split-second misjudgment can turn cricket into chaos.
Rachin’s Scary Escape
During New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan, Rachin Ravindra was struck on the forehead while attempting a catch on the boundary. Blood streamed down his face as stunned players gathered around. He escaped with a deep cut and returned after a few matches - a lucky survivor of what could have been far worse.
Kieswetter's Career Over
But not everyone has been as lucky. In 2014, England’s Craig Kieswetter suffered a horrific facial injury when a ball pierced through his helmet grill, fracturing his eye socket. The blow ended his career, forcing him into early retirement.
And every time a ball thuds into a helmet, one chilling memory resurfaces - Phil Hughes’ tragic death. That fatal bouncer from Sean Abbott remains the darkest moment in cricket’s history - a painful reminder that sometimes, even in sport’s pursuit of glory, the risks are heartbreakingly real.
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