In an unfortunate incident on September 16, 2022, Friday, Venkatesh Iyer was on the neck. After a few tense moments in the game at the SNR College Cricket ground in Tamil Nadu, the all-rounder was rushed into the hospital and was released after a few customary scans. An ambulance made its way into the ground after a wild throw, on follow-through, by West Zone medium pacer Chintan Gaja injured Central Zone's Venkatesh Iyer during their Duleep Trophy match here on Friday.
"He is fine and back in the team hotel. I have spoken to him and he looks quite ok now", an official from Tamil Nadu Cricket Association said. Central Zone was having a go at West Zone in the five-day game.
Iyer, who has also been a part of India's squad for a brief period, opened his account with a six off Gaja. Next ball, he hit it back to Gaja, who threw it back at Iyer, and the batter was down on the ground in pain. The ambulance arrived in the middle of the ground, and the stretcher was out too, but the 27-year-old decided to walk out off the field.
Iyer came back to bat but was dismissed after reaching 14. However, Ashok Menaria was fielding in Iyer's place. Iyer further said that he was hit below the ear, and was in shock for some time but had been doing well. The Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder still looked unsure to play the next innings and said that he had been kept under observation for 24 hours. Iyer has played a total of two ODIs and nine ODIs for team India but now isn't in Indian national team's scheme of things.
