NEW DELHI, India, CMC – India’s wicketkeeper/batsman Rishabh Pant will miss next month’s two-Test series against West Indies with a fractured left foot. Pant suffered the injury during the tour of England in July and is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He is expected to be replaced by Dhruv Jurel for the West Indies series.
India will play the first Test of the series in Ahmedabad from October 2, while the second Test is scheduled to begin on October 10 in Delhi.
The 27-year-old Pant, who served as India’s vice-captain in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England this year, fractured his foot while attempting a reverse sweep against Chris Woakes on the opening day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
N Jagadeesan subsequently replaced him in the squad for the final Test at the Oval.
It has been learned that Pant has been undergoing strength and conditioning and is awaiting further updates from the BCCI medical team before he can resume batting and wicket-keeping.
Jurel, who is currently in Lucknow playing against Australia ‘A’, kept wicket in the final two Tests of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Jagadeesan, who opened in the first match against Australia ‘A’, as well as swapped keeping duties with Jurel, could be the back-up in case the selectors opt for a second specialist wicketkeeper for the West Indies series.
India’s selection meeting for the series is scheduled for September 24, where the Ajit Agarkar-led panel will pick 15 players, which is two fewer than the squad for the New Zealand Tests last October, the previous home series India played.
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