New Delhi: Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant could not take the field on the third day of the first Test match against New Zealand in Bengaluru. Pant got badly hit on the right knee in the 37th over of the second innings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, when a delivery from Ravindra Jadeja spun sharply inwards and hit his knee with Devon Conway at the strike.
The blow to his knee was so bad that he fell on the ground and had to be attended by the medical team. Pant eventually hobbled off the field, limping his way back to the pavilion. What was worse was that the knee which suffered the blow was the same one on which Pant had been operated after suffering a fatal car crash last year, which ruled him out of the entire season.
How bad is Pant’s injury?
At the end of day’s play, skipper Rohit Sharma informed that there was some swelling on his knee and the team did not want to take any risks. Rohit further said that Pant being taken out of the field was done as a precautionary measure and the wicketkeeper should take the field on the third day of the five-day affair.
However, the Indian team management informed shortly before the resumption of play on the third day that Pant will not be part of the action. “Mr Rishabh Pant will not keep wickets on Day 3. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress,” the statement said.
As per multiple media reports, the step to keep Pant away from action on Friday is a precautionary measure which has been taken for the well-being of the flamboyant player. Keeping in mind the remaining matches of the series and the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy ahead, this step was taken. The wicketkeeper might hopefully take the field on the fourth day of the game.
