Rishabh Pant has reportedly been ruled out for six weeks due to a fractured toe. Pant, who retired hurt on Day 1 of the fourth Test against England, is unlikely to feature again in the series. In his absence, Ishan Kishan is set to be added to the squad for the upcoming fifth Test, which begins on July 31.
Pant’s injury occurred during the 68th over of India’s innings when he attempted a premeditated reverse sweep off England pacer Chris Woakes. The blow on his right foot immediately left Pant in discomfort and he was seen hobbling in pain before receiving on-field medical attention. The physio treated a visibly swollen and bloodied foot before Pant was taken off the field on a medical cart.
The severity of the injury became clearer after scans revealed a fracture in his toe, as reported by The Indian Express. The Indian team management, already reeling from multiple injuries in the squad, had hoped Rishabh Pant might be able to bat again if needed. However, the chances of his return were quickly ruled out. "The scan report showed a fracture and he is ruled out for six weeks. The medical team is trying to see if he can come out to bat again by taking a pain killer. He still needs support to walk though and chances of his batting looks very bleak," a BCCI source said as quoted to The Indian Express.
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Ishan Kishan to Be Named as Replacement for 5th Test
With only one specialist wicket-keeper available in the current squad in the form of Dhruv Jurel and Pant ruled out, Ishan Kishan will be drafted into the squad for the fifth and final Test as per The Indian Express report.
Kishan is expected to join the team in the coming days. He last played a Test match in July 2023 and he has been dropped from the team since then. In his career, he has featured in a total of two Tests so far. He has scored 78 runs with the best of 52*.
Kishan’s return is seen as a direct replacement for Pant, not just as a wicket-keeper but also as a left-handed middle-order batter.
Meanwhile, India’s injury list continues to grow. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh are all unavailable.
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County Stint Keeps Ishan Kishan Match Ready
Kishan’s likely call-up comes on the back of his recent red-ball stint in English conditions. The left-hander played for Nottinghamshire in county cricket last month, gaining valuable match time with the Dukes ball on seaming pitches.
He scored 164 runs at an average of 82 and smashed fifties in both the innings he batted in.
Also read: IND vs ENG: BCCI breaks silence on Rishabh Pant's toe injury that forced him to retire hurt
