India were given a significant fright after wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was forced to leave the field with an injury on the opening day of the Lord’s Test against England.
With the five-match series tied at one apiece after a fine win from the tourists at Edgbaston, India had been hoping to edge ahead in a crucial encounter in London with outstanding seam bowler Jasprit Bumrah back in the side.
But a seemingly innocuous moment just after lunch could have proved pivotal in the context of the Test with Pant sustaining an injury while sprawling in an attempt to take a Bumrah ball down the leg side.
The wicketkeeper leapt to his left to retrieve a rare errant delivery from the quick bowler, conceding two byes after only managing to get fingertips to it.
Pant, who made twin hundreds in the opening Test of the series at Headingley, immediately arose with discomfort, before receiving treatment from the India medic.
While he was able to see out the rest of the 34th over of England’s first innings, the 27-year-old soon gave up the gloves with substitute Dhruv Jurel introduced to take over wicketkeeping duties.
India, however, soon allayed fears of a serious issue, suggesting that Pant had avoided major injury and was icing his finger in the dressing room.
It remains to be seen if Pant will return later in the innings, though it would appear he will be able to bat later in the Test. The left-hander is slotted in at No 5 in India’s order - while Jurel is permitted to replace him as keeper in the field, India would have to bat with 10 if Pant’s injury is severe enough to prevent him batting.
