Rishabh Pant suffered an injury scare on Day 1 of the third Test at Lord’s, raising concerns in the Indian camp. The incident occurred during the 34th over of England’s innings when Pant dived to his left in an attempt to stop a wide delivery from Jasprit Bumrah.
While the dive was full-blooded, it ended in discomfort, as Pant appeared to injure the tips of the fingers on his left hand.
IND vs ENG: What Happened to Rishabh Pant?
The wicketkeeper immediately received medical attention on the field. Although the injury was taped and he resumed keeping for a brief period, the discomfort was evident. Moments later, Pant walked off the ground, and Dhruv Jurel was brought in as a substitute behind the stumps. The visuals of Pant wincing in pain did not go unnoticed, and in a telling moment, Gautam Gambhir left the dressing room balcony to check on him personally-a gesture that underscored the seriousness of the situation.
Will Rishabh Pant come out to Bat in the Match?
At this point, Pant’s participation as a batter in the match remains likely, given that the injury was not sustained while batting. Under the laws, Jurel can keep wickets but is not permitted to bat in Pant’s place. Therefore, if Pant is unable to take the field with the bat, India would effectively lose a batting spot. That would be a major blow considering Pant’s form in the series. He has already notched up two centuries and a half-century, standing as India’s second-highest run-scorer in the contest so far.
The Indian team management is awaiting a detailed medical evaluation before making any final decision about Pant’s role for the rest of the Test.
For now, the hope is that the injury is minor and that Pant will be able to resume duties, at least with the bat. Given his current form and the balance he brings to the side, India can ill afford to lose him at such a critical juncture of the series.