Injured Rishabh Pant fails to take field on Day 3, BCCI to monitor fitness

Injured Rishabh Pant did not take the field on Day 3 of the Bengaluru Test match between India and New Zealand. The Board of Control for Cricket in India appraised the situation at the start of play on Friday and said that the BCCI medical team were monitoring the wicketkeeper-batter.

The development comes after Rishabh Pant had to be carried off the field due to a left knee injury on Day 2 of the Test match on Thursday, October 17. The incident occurred during New Zealand’s innings when Pant appeared to injure his left knee while attempting to collect a delivery in the 37th over. He was seen in visible discomfort, prompting India’s physios to rush onto the field. Despite their efforts, Pant had to be carried off and was replaced by substitute wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel.

IND vs NZ Day 2: Highlights | Full Scorecard

Rohit Sharma Gives Update on Pant

At the end of Day 2’s play, India captain Rohit Sharma spoke about Rishabh Pant. The Indian captain said that Pant had been hit on the area where he had his surgery done and his muscles were a bit tender.

“Unfortunately, the knee. The ball went and hit straight on his knee cap, the leg which he had surgery on. So, he has got a little bit of swelling on it. The muscles are bit tender at this point of time. It’s a precautionary measure,” Rohit stated during the post-match press conference.

The worry surrounding Pant’s injury is compounded by the fact that he recently returned to competitive cricket after a 14-month rehabilitation process following the injuries he sustained in a severe car accident in 2022. Pant had been working hard to recover from a left knee injury, which required surgery. His return was eagerly awaited, making this new setback even more disheartening for the Indian camp.

With a long cricketing calendar ahead, including crucial series like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, the injury to Pant could pose serious concerns for India’s plans. Captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir are likely to be on edge, considering how integral Pant is to India’s lineup, both as a wicketkeeper and as an aggressive middle-order batter.

Pant’s exit has left a significant hole in India’s setup, especially at a time when the team is already under immense pressure after a poor batting display. The injury to Pant adds to a growing list of concerns as India struggles to bounce back in the Test.