Dhruv Jurel or Ishan Kishan? Rishabh Pant's replacement finalized for fifth Test against England

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant fractured his toe during the opening day (Wednesday, July 23) of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford in Manchester. There is growing speculation about a replacement in the squad for the fifth Test, with Dhruv Jurel and Ishan Kishan among the contenders.

The 27-year-old injured his toe during the 68th over while attempting a reverse sweep to a yorker-length ball from Chris Woakes. The delivery took an inside edge and hit his toe. He removed his shoe and socks, and bleeding was evident from the wound. He was forced to be taken off the field on a golf cart.

Rishabh Pant in Fine Form Before Retiring Hurt in Manchester Test

Rishabh Pant was in fine form, scoring an unbeaten 37 off 48 balls with two boundaries and a six before walking off the field. He added a vital 72-run partnership with Sai Sudharsan, helping India recover from a difficult phase.

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The injury is a major setback for India, who trail 1-2 in the five-Test series and need a win in Manchester to stay alive. Pant has been one of India’s top performers on the tour, amassing 462 runs at an average of 66, including two centuries and two fifties.

The BCCI medical team is currently monitoring his condition, but no official update on the severity of the injury has been released. It is still unclear whether Pant will continue in the match or play in the final Test. India ended the day at 264/4, with Ravindra Jadeja (19) and Shardul Thakur (19) at the crease.

Rishabh Pant Ruled Out of Fourth Test and Series Due to Fracture

According to a report by The Indian Express, scans have confirmed that Rishabh Pant has suffered a fracture, ruling him out for six weeks. With India one batter short for the remainder of the fourth Test, the medical team is assessing whether he can return to bat under painkillers.

However, his chances of coming back to the crease appear slim. While the team is exploring options to get him to bat again, Pant is still struggling to walk without assistance, which makes a return unlikely.

“The scan report showed a fracture and he is ruled out for six weeks. The medical team is trying to see if he can come out to bat again by taking a pain killer. He still needs support to walk though and chances of his batting looks very bleak,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

Ishan Kishan Expected to Be Added to India’s Squad for Fifth Test

With Rishabh Pant ruled out due to injury, Ishan Kishan is expected to be added to India's squad for the fifth Test at The Oval, scheduled from July 31 to August 4.

Dhruv Jurel will take over as the substitute wicketkeeper. However, as per the rules, he cannot bat, meaning India will continue the fourth Test with only ten available batters. Jurel, who also kept wickets during the Lord's Test, is likely to remain behind the stumps for the rest of the Manchester match.

Jurel is currently the leading candidate to replace Pant in the playing XI, as per Dainik Jagran. Kishan was part of India A tour of England, but he did not feature in any of the four-day matches, with Jurel playing both games.

Kishan last represented India in November 2023 during the T20I series against Australia. He has been absent from national duty since returning early from the South Africa tour due to personal reasons.

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