New Delhi, 28 July : As feared, Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test against England due to a fracture in his right leg. The injury occurred during the Manchester Test, and Pant will now miss the Oval Test.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially announced late Sunday night that Pant will not be available for the final Test, and Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batter N Jagadeesan has been added to the squad as his replacement.
Pant Injured While Playing a Scoop Shot
Pant sustained the injury on Day 2 of the Manchester Test while attempting a scoop shot against Chris Woakes. The ball struck his shoe directly, and he had to leave the field. Later that evening, scans confirmed a fracture in his leg. As per medical advice, Pant is expected to be out of action for at least six weeks.
Despite the severity of the injury, Pant surprised everyone by returning to bat the next day and completed a half-century. However, he did not bat in the second innings, where KL Rahul and the middle order guided India to a draw.
Gautam Gambhir Praises Pant’s Grit
Following the Manchester Test, head coach Gautam Gambhir lauded Pant’s courage and commitment. He said, “One thing I must say — this team’s foundation and character are built on sacrifices by players like Rishabh Pant. Batting with a fractured leg is no ordinary feat. What he did for the country will be remembered for generations.”
Gambhir added, “It’s unfortunate that he got injured while in such fine form. But he is a vital part of our Test team, and we hope he recovers soon and returns stronger.”
Injuries Continue to Trouble Indian Squad
India has been grappling with injuries throughout the series. Before the fourth Test, Akash Deep (groin), Arshdeep Singh (finger), and Nitish Reddy (knee) were ruled out. While Nitish has been ruled out for the entire series, both Akash Deep and Arshdeep have recovered and are available for the Oval Test.
India Squad for Fifth Test at The Oval:
Shubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj, Arshdeep Singh, N Jagadeesan (Wicketkeeper)
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
