A blow on the knee while wicketkeeping forced Rishabh Pant off the field on Thursday in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, and India’s injury concerns grew when Yashasvi Jaiswal hurt his thumb while taking a sharp close-in catch on Friday.
Standing at gully while Mohammed Siraj was bowling on day three of the match, Jaiswal pouched an edge from Daryll Mitchell’s bat that flew towards the Indian opener.He immediately grimaced and shook his hand, before being escorted off the field for medical attention.
Axar Patel came in as a substitute for Jaiswal. However, Jaiswal later returned to the field with his left thumb heavily taped, which eased India’s nerves.
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Earlier, before the start of play on Friday, BCCI announced that Pant will remain off the field to avoid any risk of aggravating his injury, which is in the same knee that was operated upon following his car accident in December 2022.
Dhruv Jurel will continue to keep wickets.
After stumps on Thursday, Rohit had said, “The ball went and hit straight on his knee cap, the leg which he had surgery on. So he has got a little bit of swelling on it. The muscles are a bit tender at this point of time. It’s a precautionary measure.”
The BCCI update on Pant’s injury said, “The Medical Team is monitoring his progress.”
New Zealand’s lead, meanwhile, soared past the 300-run mark on Friday, thanks to a century by Rachin Ravindra and a brisk fifty by Tim Southee (65).
India were dismissed for an embarrassing 46 on day two, which is their lowest total in a Test on home soil.
