Rishabh Pant Injury: Why Jurel Can't Fully Replace Him
India faced a worrying moment on Day 1 of the Lord’s Test against England when wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant sustained an injury to his left hand. The team had to bring in Dhruv Jurel as a substitute behind the stumps for the rest of the day while Pant received medical attention.
Though Jurel can keep wickets throughout the match, he is not allowed to bat in Pant’s place if the latter is ruled out completely. This could impact India’s chances in the third Test, where they aim to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Pant has been one of India’s top performers this series, making his absence a serious setback.
ICC’s New Rule Not Yet Applicable to Test Matches
Fans on social media questioned why Jurel couldn’t become a full replacement under the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) new injury substitution rule. As announced last month, ICC will allow a like-for-like replacement for players who suffer serious injuries during a match. However, this rule currently applies only to domestic cricket and will be implemented from October.
For international Test cricket, the only exception for a full replacement remains concussion. Since Pant’s injury is not a concussion, Jurel cannot be used as a fully participating player, meaning he cannot bat in the match.
Update on Pant’s Condition
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the injury in a post, stating that Pant was hit on his left index finger and is under the care of the team’s medical staff. After the match, Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy said there was no further update but the team would know more before the start of Day 2.
As things stand, India will hope Pant recovers in time to take the field again. Otherwise, they may find themselves a batter short in a crucial Test match.
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