NEW DELHI: In a significant development that has rocked Indian cricket, team's ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer sustained a rib cage injury while taking a catch during the third ODI against Australia at the SCG on Saturday.

According to sources, Iyer collapsed in the dressing room after his vital signs dropped alarmingly low. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, where scans revealed a laceration injury to his spleen.

Shreyas Iyer hospitalised in Sydney with internal bleeding

"Shreyas Iyer sustained an impact injury to his left lower rib cage region...He was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Scans have revealed a laceration injury to the spleen. He is under treatment, medically stable, and recovering well," the BCCI said in a statement on Monday.

"The BCCI Medical Team, in consultation with specialists in Sydney and India, is closely monitoring his injury status. The Indian Team Doctor will remain in Sydney with Shreyas to evaluate his day-to-day progress," the statement added.

After news of Iyer's injury became a major talking point, fans are understandably curious about the nature of his condition - an injury that's rarely heard of. Here's everything you need to know about the spleen, what happens if it ruptures, and how it's treated.

What is a spleen?

The spleen is an organ located on the left side of the rib cage, just above the stomach. It stores and filters blood and helps produce white blood cells that protect the body from infection.

What happens if the spleen is ruptured?

According to Mayo Clinic, a forceful blow to the stomach - during a sporting accident, a fistfight, or a car crash, for example - is the usual cause of a ruptured spleen. Without emergency treatment, the internal bleeding caused by a ruptured spleen can be life-threatening.

How is a ruptured spleen treated?

Some minor tears might stop bleeding on their own, while others may require various types of emergency repairs. Only the most severe ruptures require spleen removal (splenectomy). However, a severe spleen injury may not be immediately obvious, according to the Cleveland Clinic.