Rishabh Pant - (AFP)
Rishabh Pant did not take field for Team India during the entirety of Day 3 of the series-deciding second Test against Sri Lanka. In his absence, Dhruv Jurel took over the wicketkeeping duties, much like how he kept wickets in the final three overs of Day 2 at the SSC Ground in Colombo.
After stumps on Day 2, Jurel stated that Pant was suffering from shoulder pain and the cricketer was being closely monitored by the BCCI medical team and physios.
Now, India’s fast bowling coach Morne Morkel has expressed uncertainty over Pant's cricketing comeback, revealing that the senior player will be assessed overnight ahead of day 4 of the Colombo Test.
Morne Morkel drops big hint about Rishabh Pant’s availability
While speaking with the reporters after stumps on Day 3, Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel stated that the shoulder of Rishabh Pant has been “badly bruised” and the cricketer will be further assessed by the medical team overnight.
Morkel added that Pant’s availability is crucial for Team India owing to his experience behind the stumps.
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“Rishabh Pant’s shoulder is badly bruised. He will be assessed overnight, we want his experience behind the stumps because he reads the game really well,” Morne Morkel said speaking to the press after stumps on Day 3.
Why could Rishabh Pant be out of Indian team for a longer period?
India's bowling coach Morne Morkel highlighted that Pant's shoulder is badly bruised, meaning the chances of his immediate return to the cricket field are slim. His remarks also indicate that the 28-year-old's injury is more serious than earlier thought.
India's next Test assignment is against New Zealand and there is time for that. However, the BCCI is yet to assess the extent of the injury and there is no update on Pant's return date. Hence, there is a possibility that the left-handed batter might be out of the Indian side for a considerable time.
What happened to Rishabh Pant?
Batting at number five for Team India on Day 1 of the second Test, Rishabh Pant reached 3* off 15 balls before coping a blow on his wrist from a short ball by Lahiru Kumara.
The cricketer subsequently received medical assistance before he walked off the field. The explosive wicketkeeper-batter resumed his innings on Day 2, and went on to compile 63 off 89 balls with six boundaries and two huge sixes.
After seemingly recovering from his wrist injury, Pant has since been struggling with severe shoulder pain, as per his teammate Dhruv Jurel and bowling coach Morne Morkel.
Injury-prone Pant breaks records with Colombo 50
Despite battling wrist injury and shoulder pain, Rishabh Pant still went on to break a few notable records through his courageous half-century against Sri Lanka.
For instance, Pant’s 63-run knock helped him surpass MS Dhoni to become the most successful Asian batter in overseas Test matches. He also became the leading run-maker in World Test Championship (WTC) history, surpassing Pakistan stumper Mohammad Rizwan.
Pant also levelled up with Virat Kohli and Mohinder Amarnath in terms of notching up the fifth-joint highest number of fifty-plus scores after playing 90 Test innings for the Indian cricket team.
His fiery half-century, coupled with hundreds from fellow wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel and experimental number three Devdutt Padikkal helped Team India mount 503-9d in 138 overs.
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