Subhayan Chakraborty in Bengaluru
Rishabh Pant is a major doubt for the second Test against New Zealand in Pune, starting October 24, after he sustained a knee injury during the first match in Bengaluru. Despite his belligerent knock of 99 in India’s second innings, in a 177-run partnership with Sarfaraz Khan, Pant did not don the wicketkeeping gloves in the fourth innings, nor did he participate in the morning warm-ups on Day 5.
Discussing Pant’s condition, India captain Rohit Sharma expressed reservations about his participation in the next game, while highlighting the major surgeries and trauma that the southpaw underwent following a horror car accident in December 2022.
“He (Pant) had a massive operation on his leg. So, we all know what he went through. It’s just to be a little careful about where he is at and what he is to us. Even when he was batting, he was not comfortably running. He was trying to only put the ball in the stands. But, again, with someone like him, we just need to be extra careful. Because he has had a lot of minor surgeries, one big surgery on his knee,” Rohit said at the post-match press conference.
The skipper added: “He went through a lot of trauma, to be honest, in the last one-and-a-half years. So, it’s just about being extra careful, not careful with him. When you are ‘keeping, you have to bend every ball with your knee going down. And the wicket being what it was, we thought it is the right thing to do for him to stay inside and then get 100 per cent ready for the next one.”
Gill ready for Pune Test
On a brighter note for Team India, Shubman Gill, having recovered from a stiff neck, is poised to return in the XI for the Pune Test. Gill was actively seen honing his batting skills at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium at the end of the match today, facing bowlers like Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana and Akash Deep, along with a left-arm unorthodox spinner and a couple of throwdown specialists. His session at the nets lasted for more than an hour and was promising, showing no signs of discomfort. He was seen undergoing catching drills with fielding coach T Dilip after finishing his nets.
“Shubman seems okay at this point,” Rohit said at the presser, dropping a hint at Gill’s inclusion in the next match.
The return of Gill is a positive sign for India. However, the focus remains on Pant’s fitness, with hopes for his swift recovery from the recent knee issue.
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