India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that Rishabh Pant will keep wickets in the upcoming 2nd Test against New Zealand, starting October 24. Pant recently dealt with a minor knee injury sustained during the first Test, which prevented him from keeping wickets in New Zealand’s second innings. Dhruv Jurel took over the wicketkeeping duties in Pant’s absence as the management opted to protect him ahead of crucial matches against New Zealand and Australia.
Pant had previously suffered a serious car accident in December 2022, which resulted in broken knee ligaments and a lengthy rehabilitation process. During the first innings of the previous Test, he hurt his knee again and left the field as a precaution. However, Gambhir now assures fans that Pant is fit to play in the second Test.
“He’s absolutely fine, he’ll keep wickets tomorrow,” Gambhir stated at a pre-match press conference, as reported by RevSportz.
Despite his injury, Pant showcased his importance to the team by scoring a resilient 99 runs in India’s second innings, narrowly missing out on a century. His batting prowess is critical for India, especially as they aim to level the three-match Test series. Reports indicate that the Pune pitch will likely favor spinners, making Pant’s aggressive style even more vital in countering the Kiwi spin attack. His fitness is a significant boost for the Indian team as they seek to bounce back.
Leave a Reply