Rishabh Pant suffered an injury scare and walked off retired hurt on Day 1 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Pant took a painful blow to his left wrist from a sharp bouncer by Sri Lankan pacer Lahiru Kumara and appeared to be in considerable discomfort.
India won the toss and opted to bat first on Sunday, August 23. They reached 187/3 in 52 overs at tea break on Day 1. Shubman Gill scored 50 before Asitha Fernando dismissed him, while Devdutt Padikkal remained unbeaten on 63. The pair rescued the team by adding 120 run partnership for the third wicket.
Rishabh Pant Retires Hurt After Nasty Blow to Left Wrist
The injury occurred in the 58th over when Lahiru Kumara bowled a 132.5 kph short delivery from around the wicket. Pant moved across his crease and tried to ramp the ball over the wicketkeeper, but the delivery struck his left wrist.
Pant immediately called for medical assistance as he appeared to be in severe pain. The Indian team physio rushed onto the field with an ice pack, while substitutes Sarfaraz Khan and Gurnoor Brar brought drinks and equipment. The medical team then taped Pant's injured wrist.
After a lengthy delay, umpire Ahsan Raza checked on Pant and pointed to his watch. The taping did not ease the pain, forcing Pant to leave the field retired hurt on 3*. Ravindra Jadeja then walked out to join Devdutt Padikkal at the crease.
Hope this injury is not too serious. Rishabh Pant looked in some pain. He walks off. pic.twitter.com/nMN9qbQ8ZU
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) August 23, 2026
Shubman Gill and Devdutt Padikkal Put India in Control at Tea
Shubman Gill and Devdutt Padikkal steadied India's innings with a 120-run partnership in the second session of Day One in Colombo. Gill scored 50 before Asitha Fernando dismissed him late in the session, while Padikkal remained unbeaten on 63.
Padikkal got two reprieves on zero and one. He played his shots well, using drives, pulls and cuts before reaching his fifty off 90 balls with a boundary through the covers against Prabath Jayasuriya. He finished the session with seven boundaries.
The pair brought up their century partnership off 168 balls as Sri Lanka's spinners struggled to contain them. Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha often bowled down the leg side, conceding wides. Gill also looked comfortable against the spinners before reaching his ninth Test fifty.
Gill completed his fifty off 99 balls with a single towards fine leg. Fernando then ended the partnership when Gill chased a length delivery outside off and edged it behind. Niroshan Dickwella held the catch on his second attempt to give Sri Lanka a late breakthrough.
Rishabh Pant's Crucial Contribution in India's Galle Test Win
Rishabh Pant played a key role in India's 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle. The left-handed batter scored 39 in the first innings before making 66 off 69 balls in the second, helping India recover and set Sri Lanka a target of 372.
Pant's second-innings knock shifted the momentum in India's favour. He attacked the Sri Lankan bowlers when India needed quick runs and reached his fifty. Pant also completed 100 Test sixes, making him the first Indian batter to reach the milestone.
Pant has established himself as one of India's leading Test batters. He has scored 3,662 runs in 51 Tests, including eight centuries and 18 fifties. The southpaw has the ability to approach aggressively, which changes the course of a Test and puts pressure on the opposition.
Also read: Shubman Gill second only to Don Bradman as Test captain
