Indian cricket star Shreyas Iyer gave fans a heart-in-mouth moment this week but it was not because of a bouncer on the pitch. The star batter, who is making a highly anticipated return to the national squad, narrowly escaped a dog bite at Vadodara Airport on Friday, January 9, 2026.

Iyer was arriving to join the Indian team for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand after a grueling two-month recovery from a spleen injury. While walking through the terminal, he stopped to sign autographs and interact with a crowd of supporters.

The situation took a surprising turn when a fan carrying a small white pet dog approached him. Known for being an animal lover, Iyer leaned in to “lovingly pet it,” but the dog suddenly lunged and “snapped its teeth” at his hand.

The cricketer showed lightning-fast reflexes, “instinctively pulling his hand back” to avoid the snap. Despite the close call, Iyer remained calm and “walked away with a smile,” appearing unfazed by the minor scare.

Social media was instantly flooded with the footage, with fans jokingly posting, “That dog was just doing a quick fitness test!” and others urging, “Sarpanch saab just returned fit – PLEASE protect him at all costs.”

Fortunately, the “unusual moment of the field” caused no injury and Iyer is officially cleared to play in the first ODI starting Sunday.