An unfortunate injury to Rishabh Pant could potentially open the doors for Ishan Kishan’s international comeback. As per a report, Pant has fractured his toe after taking a hit to his right boot while batting during the first day of the fourth Test between India and England in Manchester.
Pant has been advised rest for six weeks and it’s highly unlikely that he will be able to bat again in the fourth Test. Batting on 37, he attempted a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes and ended up inside-edging the ball onto his right foot following which he was driven off the ground in a buggy all the while grimacing in pain.
According to a report in The Indian Express, the selection committee is will add wicketkeeper-batter Ishan in the Test squad for the fifth Test slated to get underway from July 31 at The Oval.
Pant’s injury is the latest setback for the Indian team already dealing with fitness concerns to fast bowling duo of Akash Deep (groin), Arshdeep Singh (finger) and allrounder Nitish Reddy who has been ruled out of the tour with a knee injury.
This is the second injury that Pant has sustained in as many Tests on the tour having earlier hurt his finger at Lord’s while collecting a ball delivered by Jasprit Bumrah. He wasn’t able to keep wickets with Dhruv Jurel taking his place.
Ishan Over Jurel?
India already have a backup option in Jurel, Ishan is also expected to link up with the Test squad in England.
While Indian Test team was taking on England in the ongoing five-match series, Ishan played two county championship matches for Nottinghamshire in June-July. He scored two half-centuries besides effecting five dismissals (four catches and one stumping).
Ishan made his Test debut during the West Indies tour of 2023 where he scored a fifty. He played in both Tests of the series which India won 1-0. The 27-year-old later in 2023 took a break citing mental fatigue and later BCCI kicked him out from the central contracts after he skipped domestic cricket for Jharkhand.
His last appearance for India came during a bilateral T20I series against Australia in November 2023.
