Indian batter Shreyas Iyer injured himself during the third ODI against Australia on October 25. He had a laceration injury in his spleen as he landed awkwardly while trying to take a catch of Alex Carey. The 30-year-old was taken off the field and was admitted to a hospital in Sydney to spend some days in the ICU. His condition is stable now, but the doctors have asked him to rest for longer than previously anticipated. The BCCI medical team confirmed that Iyer would stay back in Sydney for further care before returning home. His unavailability necessarily means India will have to find another player to replace him in the upcoming ODI series against South Africa starting November 30. Let's take a look at five players who could replace Shreyas Iyer in the Indian squad. 5 Players Who Can Replace Shreyas Iyer in India's ODI vs SA Riyan Parag Riyan Parag could be a strong choice to fill Iyer's spot. He made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka last year but then missed out later on due to injury. In his solitary ODI appearance, Parag scored 15 runs and picked up three wickets in nine overs, which proved that he can contribute both with the bat and ball. The young all-rounder has also appeared in nine T20Is, in which he has scored 106 runs and taken four wickets. He can bat at four and is a very useful bowling option, adding depth and balance to the team. If given a chance, Parag could bring much-needed flexibility to India's middle order. Tilak Varma Another exciting choice for India is Tilak Varma. The left-hander was the star performer in the Asia Cup final, playing a key role in India’s win over Pakistan. While he has scored only 68 runs in four ODIs so far, Tilak’s current form and confidence make him a strong contender. Known for his calm approach and ability to handle pressure, the number four position could be entrusted to Tilak. His ability to rotate the strike to anchor the innings could come in very handy against the strong South African bowling attack. Sanju Samson The name of Sanju Samson crops up every time India feels the requirement for a solid middle-order batter. Samson has been in fine form in ODIs, having scored 510 runs in 16 matches at an impressive average of 56.66, including one century and three fifties. He wasn't part of the ODI squad against Australia as there were other favorites for top-order positions, but in the absence of Iyer, Samson perfectly fits into the number four slot. His aggressive approach up the order and his ability to anchor innings make him a perfect replacement for Iyer. Rajat Patidar Rajat Patidar has quietly built a reputation for being consistent in domestic cricket. He has already represented India in Tests and one ODI, showing solid technique and temperament. Patidar's recent domestic form has been great, and he has led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the first-ever IPL title as captain, Central Zone to Duleep Trophy victory, and was captaining the Rest of India in the Irani Cup. Probably, with his experience as leader and consistent performances, he is a natural fit at number four. Ruturaj Gaikwad Another option in the middle order could be Ruturaj Gaikwad. The right-hander has represented the Indian team in six ODIs and 20 T20Is and is known for his classy stroke play and his calm composure when under pressure. As a skipper of CSK, he has shown leadership and composure during pivotal moments. While he generally opens for his franchise side, his experience of playing at number four in domestic cricket ultimately makes him a flexible choice. His ability to rotate the strike and accelerate when required could bring balance to India's batting order.