The fourth match of the ongoing Test series between India and England may have ended in a thrilling draw, but there's bad news for Team India. Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who bravely scored a half-century in the fourth Test, will now be unable to play in the fifth and final Test of the series.
IND vs ENG 5th Test: Following the draw of the fourth match in the ongoing Test series between India and England, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a significant decision. Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who was injured in the Manchester Test, has been ruled out of the upcoming 5th and decisive Test. Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batsman N. Jagadeesan has been included in the Indian squad in his place. This decision has not only affected Team India's composition but has also presented a new challenge to the hopes of a series comeback.
Rishabh Pant Out, N. Jagadeesan Gets a Chance
During the Manchester Test, Rishabh Pant injured his right leg while attempting a reverse sweep off England's fast bowler Chris Woakes. A scan report has confirmed a fracture, which means he will not be able to participate in the final Test. The BCCI stated in a press release, "Rishabh Pant sustained a fracture to his right leg during the Manchester Test. The medical team is monitoring him and wishes him a speedy recovery."
However, despite the injury, Pant did not lose heart and returned to the field to play a resilient innings of 54 runs, once again proving himself to be a fighter. In Rishabh Pant's absence, the BCCI has included N. Jagadeesan in the team. The 28-year-old Jagadeesan has been consistently performing in domestic cricket and the IPL for the past few years.
He will now be available as a wicketkeeping option alongside Dhruv Jurel for the final Test, which will be held at The Oval in London from July 31st. N. Jagadeesan has played several important innings for the Ranji Trophy and India A. His calm demeanor, reliable batting technique, and efficient wicketkeeping could make him a valuable asset to the team.
India's Revised Squad – 5th Test (July 31st onwards, The Oval, London)
- Captain: Shubman Gill
- Opening Batsmen: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul
- Other Batsmen: Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair
- All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur
- Wicketkeepers: Dhruv Jurel, N. Jagadeesan
- Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Anshul Kamboj
Eyes on Leveling the Series
Currently, England is leading the series 2-1. In such a situation, India has a golden opportunity to draw the series by winning the 5th Test. However, the absence of a match-winner like Rishabh Pant could prove to be a major challenge for the team. The team management will now have to decide whether to give the wicketkeeping responsibility in the final XI to Dhruv Jurel or give the recently included N. Jagadeesan a chance to debut.
