 "Dhruv Jurel has taken over the wicket-keeping duties for India at Lord's after Rishabh Pant suffered a finger injury. Images: Sky Sports")
Indian cricket team suffered a massive injury scare on Day 1 of the Lord’s Test against England on Thursday as wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant injured his fingers while trying to collect a Jasprit Bumrah delivery. The 27-year-old Pant was seen grimacing after feeling the impact of the ball as he was forced to use sprays, tape up his fingers before eventually leaving the field of play.
The incident took place in the 34th over of the first innings as Bumrah steamed in for the first ball of the over against Ollie Pope. The senior pacer, however, got his execution wrong and the ball was sprayed full and wide on leg, forcing Pant to put in a dive as the ball hit the fingertips of his left hand.
Rishabh Pant suffers painful finger injury at Lord’s
The ball was diverted to fine leg by Pant as England collected two byes, but the Indian wicket-keeper was forced to seek medical attention. He looked in pain as the physio sprayed pain relief medicine on his fingers. Pant also got his fingers taped up and while he looked very uncomfortable and in a lot of pain, he decided to continue.
India had the option to use KL Rahul as the wicket-keeper and even Dhruv Jurel is on the bench. Jurel was seen getting ready after apparently being asked to replace Pant, but he stayed on the sidelines as Pant decided to continue as the wicket-keeper.
Not for long, however, as he walked out of the field of play at the end of the 35th over, asking for a replacement. The commentators speculated that it could be a fracture, but we must wait till the BCCI medical team issues any update.
Besides Pant’s wicket-keeping, his batting is also of great value to Team India. He has scored 342 runs so far in two Test matches at 85.50, including two hundreds in the first Test at Headingley.