India's chances in the Lord's Test seem to have taken a hit with the injury to Rishabh Pant's left hand while keeping wickets on the first day of the third Test against England. The incident happened in the 34th over of the innings when a wayward Jasprit Bumrah delivery down the leg-side had Pant in trouble as he tried in vain to stop the ball.
The gloveman copped a blow on his finger due to the awkward bounce and while he seemed fine initially with the physio's treatment, Pant soon felt the pain too uncomfortable for him to continue. Subsequently, he had to leave the field and Dhruv Jurel came in as the substitute wicket-keeper to do the like-for-like role behind the stumps. The latest update from the India camp is that Pant might continue to sit on the sidelines for the second day as well. The fact that this is his dominant hand means that it could also affect his batting, at least in the first innings should India get the opportunity on the second day.
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"Team India vice-captain Rishabh Pant got hit on his left index finger. He is receiving treatment at the moment and is under the supervision of the medical team," read the statement shared by the BCCI on their official social media account.
Before start of play on the second day, Pant was seen practicing with the keeper's gloves on and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak was a keen observer of the India vice-captain who looked visibly uncomfortable while trying to gather the ball. He also tried to hold the bat but it was mostly with his right hand, something that indicates that all is not well.
Given that there are two more Tests still left in the series and a packed international schedule ahead, India will possibly try to ease Pant back into action in this game if possible.
While Jurel filled in for Pant's keeping duties, he will not be eligible to do the batting role as the ICC's regulations allow for subsitutes only in case of concussion injuries. In Pant's case, it is a finger injury and the recent playing regulations had seen an amendment which allowed fielding sides to temporarily or permanently subsitute their keeper in case of injuries but didn't grant the provision for using the substitute in the batting department.
