“It was so scary…”: Shreyas Iyer opens up on his emotional journey of recovering from paralysis after surgery

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Shreyas Iyer‘s remarkable resurrection from a career-threatening injury that left him partially paralyzed to becoming India‘s Champions Trophy hero represents one of cricket’s most inspiring comeback stories. The middle-order batter’s revelation about his terrifying ordeal has shed new light on the hidden struggles athletes face behind their public successes.

Just 30 months ago Iyer was battling excruciating pain from a severe back injury that affected his sciatica nerve extending from his lower back to his foot. The condition left him with complete paralysis in his right leg threatening to end his promising career.

“No one can understand the pain I went through. I was totally paralysed in one leg. With spine surgery you can place a rod in the back and still manage. But a snapped nerve which is what I had is really really dangerous. The pain was horrendous running all the way down to my tiny toe. It was so scary” Iyer revealed in his candid interview with GQ India.

The injury first manifested during India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in March 2023. Initially attempting to manage through cortisol injections and painkillers Iyer eventually underwent spinal surgery in London followed by an intensive three-month rehabilitation program at the National Cricket Academy.

The injury cost him the entire 2023 IPL season and his BCCI central contract highlighting the harsh realities of professional sports. “It was a roller-coaster ride to be honest. The pain was there until three months after surgery and then it started subsiding” Iyer explained.

Also READ: Asia Cup 2025: Shreyas Iyer opens up on rejections, setbacks and his road to redemption

Iyer’s comeback has been spectacular. After returning during the 2023 Asia Cup he played a pivotal role in India’s 2025 Champions Trophy victory scoring 243 runs in five innings making him the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer.

In IPL 2025 Punjab Kings acquired him for ₹26.75 crore making him the second most expensive player in IPL history. Under his captaincy Punjab Kings reached their first final since 2014 with Iyer scoring 604 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 175.07.

Despite being omitted from India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad Iyer remains resilient. “I can only control the controllable. I can only keep working on my skills and strength and when the opportunity arises I’ll grab it with both hands” he stated.

Speaking about his leadership philosophy Iyer noted: “I offer a lot as a captain and player. If I get respect anything can be accomplished. This is what happened at Punjab“.

Iyer’s journey serves as a powerful reminder of the untold struggles behind athletic achievements. “People see athletes as robots who have to perform in every game. They don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes” he concluded.

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