After Rishabh Pant went off injured during the opening day of the 3rd Test match on Thursday at Lord’s, the BCCI provided an update on the wicketkeeper-batter’s condition. “Team India vice-captain Rishabh Pant got hit on his left index finger. He is receiving treatment at the moment and under the supervision of the medical team. Dhruv Jurel is currently keeping wickets in Rishabh’s absence,” the BCCI said.
Pant was replaced by Jurel, who is not in the playing XI for the third Test, after on-field treatment did not help the India vice-captain recuperate sufficiently.
Pant was grimacing in pain after putting in a dive to stop a delivery on his left, which Jasprit Bumrah had sprayed down the leg side in the 34th over of the innings during the second session.
Pant had managed to get his hands on the ball but could not stop it entirely as England batters Joe Root and Ollie Pope scampered for a couple.
The play was then held up for a while as Pant received treatment on his hand from the Indian support staff, but the wicketkeeper kept shrugging his hands when the action resumed. Eventually, Pant left the field after the end of Bumrah’s over with Jurel taking over the charge of wicketkeeping.
Meanwhile, India kept England’s run rate in check but Joe Root and Ollie Pope chugged along to take the hosts to 153 for two at tea.
England, known for their ultra-aggressive approach, had a rather subdued session by their standards with Root and Pope going back to classical Test match batting approach.
They were happy to leave balls outside the off-stump to ensure that no damage was done, scoring a mere 70 runs from 24 overs in the session.
In the morning session, India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy struck twice in an eventful over to leave England at 83 for two at lunch.