ENG vs IND, 4th Test: Can Dhruv Jurel replace injured Rishabh Pant at Old Trafford?

Rishabh Pant sustained a fracture on his right toe and is advised a minimum six-week rest, making it difficult for him to come out to bat again as India plays England in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester.

Pant injured himself on Day 1 trying to reverse sweep fast bowler Chris Woakes. India is currently batting at 264 for four — Pant’s injury effectively makes it five down.

The MCC rules allow India’s backup keeper Dhruv Jurel to keep when India takes field. However, Pant won’t be allowed a replacement for the game — effectively making India one batter short for the rest of the Test, unless he decides to bat.

Sources in the BCCI suggested that with Pant still requiring support to walk, it looks highly unlikely that he would be in a position to bat.

Why Jurel cannot bat in place of Pant?

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced a change in playing conditions that will allow injured players to be substituted during a match. However, the rule will first be trialled in domestic First-Class games for six months before being introduced in international matches.

“A player who suffers a serious injury on the field of play at any time after the match has started (including any pre-match warm-up period) may be replaced for the remainder of the match by a fully participating like-for-like player,” the ICC said in a release.

These changes will be tested from October 2025 for six months.

According to section 24.1.2 in the current playing conditions, “a substitute shall not bowl [or bat] or act as captain but may act as wicketkeeper only with the consent of the umpires.”

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