Pant had to leave the field midway through the second session on Day 1 of the third Test after taking a painful blow to his left index finger while attempting a diving stop down the leg side. The incident occurred during the 34th over of England’s first innings when Jasprit Bumrah delivered a ball straying down leg
Shubman Gill (L) and India's Rishabh Pant (R) walk off at the lunch break on day four of the 2nd Test (Pic: AFP)
India captain Shubman Gill on Monday expressed optimism regarding Rishabh Pant’s availability for the upcoming fourth Test in Manchester, after medical scans revealed no serious damage to the wicketkeeper-batter’s injured finger. The development comes as a relief for Team India, who narrowly lost the third Test at Lord’s and are hoping for a strong response in the crucial next encounter.
Pant had to leave the field midway through the second session on Day 1 of the third Test after taking a painful blow to his left index finger while attempting a diving stop down the leg side. The incident occurred during the 34th over of England’s first innings when Jasprit Bumrah delivered a ball straying down leg, prompting Pant to dive in an effort to stop it. The impact left him visibly distressed, as he clutched his finger in pain.
Following the injury, Pant did not take the field again in a wicketkeeping capacity, with young Dhruv Jurel stepping in as a substitute behind the stumps. The 27-year-old was later seen batting in India’s second innings but showed clear signs of discomfort, often wincing while playing his shots. He was eventually dismissed for just 9 runs, unable to make a significant impact during a tense phase of the match.
Addressing the media in the post-match press conference, Gill confirmed that Pant had undergone scans and that there was no major injury detected. “Rishabh went for scans. There is no major injury so he should be fine for fourth Test in Manchester,” said the Indian skipper. While Pant’s availability now seems likely, the team management will continue to monitor his recovery over the next few days before making a final decision.
Gill, however, remained non-committal regarding the status of Bumrah, who has been one of India’s most crucial assets throughout the series. With the fourth Test set to begin in nine days, Bumrah’s availability remains uncertain. He bowled extended spells during the third Test and also contributed with the bat in a defiant lower-order effort alongside Ravindra Jadeja.
India will look to bounce back strongly in Manchester after falling short by 22 runs in a gripping finish at Lord’s. The five-match series currently stands at 2-1 in England’s favour. The fourth Test begins at Old Trafford in Manchester on July 23.
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