Not Ishan Kishan! Ex-CSK star replaces Rishabh Pant in India Test squad vs England

In a surprising development, the 29-year-old Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batsman Narayan Jagadeesan is all set to replace injured Rishabh Pant in India's Test squad.

As per a report in Cricbuzz, Narayan Jagadeesan will soon join Team India in England, and the official announcement regarding his addition will be made soon by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Also Read: ‘Injured’ Rishabh Pant available to bat in Manchester Test, confirms BCCI

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Narayan Jagadeesan to replace Rishabh Pant in India's Test squad

Rishabh Pant fractured his foot during the fourth Test match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 and has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test match against England, which will be held at The Oval.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has turned to the former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) wicketkeeper-batsman Narayan Jagadeesan to replace Rishabh Pant in the squad.

Narayan Jagadeesan has played 52 matches in his successful first-class cricket career, scoring 3373 runs at an amazing average of 47.50, with 10 centuries and 14 fifties.

Talking about Pant's injury, he injured his foot while going for a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes on Day 1 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester.

He wasn't able to play his shot to perfection and only managed to under-edge the delivery onto his foot. Pant was in immense pain after suffering the blow and was retired hurt for 37.

On Day 5, BCCI announced that Dhruv Jurel will don the keeping gloves for the rest of the match and Pant will walk in to bat if the need arises.

Why wasn't Ishan Kishan picked as Rishabh Pant's replacement?

India have Dhurv Jurel in the squad as a perfect replacement for Rishabh Pant in the playing XI but needed a back-up wicketkeeper-batsman in the squad for the fifth Test match.

Ishan Kishan is the like-for-like replacement for Rishabh Pant, and many expected him to be added to the squad in England. However, he won't be added because he is not fit enough to play.

As per a report in TOI, Ishan Kishan sustained an injury after falling from scooty and has plaster on his left ankle.

"Ishan has suffered an ankle injury and has ten stitches on his left foot after he fell from a scooty," a source tracking the development told TimesofIndia.com.

"Selectors did reach out to Ishan, but only on Thursday. His stitches have been removed and he currently has a plaster on his left ankle."

There should not be injury substitutes in Test cricket - Steven Finn

Although Rishabh Pant is down with an injury, he walked in to bat on Day 2 of the Manchester Test. However, former England star Steven Finn feels injury substitutes should be allowed in Test cricket along with concussion substitutes. In a post shared on X, Finn wrote:

"There should not be injury substitutes in test cricket. The game is played over 5 days for a reason. (Some) teams bat long in order to wear a bowling unit down. If you could substitute a fresh bowler in because of injury it would just be wrong.

"Also, how on earth do you determine what an injury is? MRI scanners at every ground to check a muscle tear? Pants’ injury is a real shame and the match will be less rich with him not taking part. But, it’s part of the game, unfortunately."

There should not be injury substitutes in test cricket. The game is played over 5 days for a reason. (Some) teams bat long in order to wear a bowling unit down. If you could substitute a fresh bowler in because of injury it would just be wrong.

Also, how on earth do you…

— Steven Finn (@finnysteve) July 24, 2025