Rishabh Pant ruled out of India’s Test series vs West Indies

Pant had been advised six weeks’ rest after suffering the blow from a delivery from fast bowler Chris Woakes while batting on Day 1 of the fourth Test of the rather epic tour which ended in a 2-2 draw. The Old Trafford Test itself was drawn and Pant had gone off retired hurt but then returned to bat the next day. He ended up scoring 54 runs in 75 balls before falling to Jofra Archer. Pant returned home after the match.

Pant had posted a photo of his stricken foot in a cast in the days after the series. It is understood that he is currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and has been undergoing strength and conditioning. He is awaiting further updates from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) medical team before resuming batting and wicketkeeping.

Jurel, who is expected to take the gloves in Pant’s absence, had also kept wickets for the third Test at Lord’s, apart from the fourth and fifth, with Pant having been hit on the fingers of his left hand on Day 1 of the match. He is currently part of the India A squad in Lucknow playing against Australia A.

Meanwile, the West Indies have dropped former captain Kraigg Brathwaite and recalled Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze to the squad that will tour India. Roston Chase continues as captain of the side. Keacy Carty, Johann Layne and Mikyle Louis are the names apart from Brathwaite who featured in the series against Australia and are absent from the squad for the India tour. West Indies had lost that series 3-0 and the manner in which they lost the last Test – being all out for a record low score of 27 in the second innings, triggered an emergency meeting to be called and a number of questions being raised on the team’s future in the longest format.

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