Venkatesh Iyer “absolutely fine” after ball hit his neck

Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, who was hit on the neck while bowler Chintan Gaja threw it back to the stumps during a Duleep Trophy game between West Zone and Central Zone in Coimbatore, is recovering well but have been kept under a 24-hour observation in the hotel room. 

Immediately after the incident, Iyer collapsed to the ground before a doctor rushed to the field in an ambulance. He was further taken to the Kauvery Hospital in Coimbatore where required scans were taken.

"It was a relief that there was no concussion. He did not feel dizzy and he looked fine. But he went off the field and the doctors on duty attended to him. He came back to bat again. After he got out, he was taken to the Kauvery Hospital in the city and all things appeared normal. He has sounded fine,” a TNCA official told Cricbuzz.

"I was hit below my ear. It was a shock initially but I am absolutely fine," Iyer told Cricbuzz from Coimbatore. Will he be able to play in the second innings? "I don't know, I have been kept under 24-hour observation. I will have to see how things go," the KKR all-rounder said.

Iyer, who was representing the Central Zone, scored 14 off 9 balls in the Central's first innings total of 128 all out. Currently, out of favor from the Indian set-up, Iyer was not even considered for the Australia and South Africa series and the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will be a huge opportunity for him to stake his claim after the T20 World Cup.