Rishabh Pant Will Bat On Day Five Of SCG Test: Ravichandran Ashwin

In a huge boost to Team India ahead of the fifth and final day of the ongoing Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Rishabh Pant will be available to bat. The news was confirmed by India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin after the fourth day’s play at the SCG. Rishabh Pant’s participation was in the remainder of the game was in doubt after he coped a nasty blow on his left elboow on the third day.

He sustained the painful blow from a short delivery by Pat Cummins. He was in a lot of pain after the blow and the physio had to apply bandage to the affected area. The wicketkeeper-batsman looked in pain throughout his short stay at the crease after the blow before being dismissed. He did not take the field when India came out to bat. Rishabh Pant was on the bench on the fourth day too as Wriddhiman Saha kept the stumps.

But fortunately for India, he will be available to bat if his services are required on the fifth day. Speaking at the end of fourth day’s play Ravichandran Ashwin confirmed that the scans revealed there was no fracture.

“Just for clarification, it has already been mentioned that Rishabh Pant will bat. The broadcasters also made sure that it was announced. I think he will bat, definitely the bruise was quite severe and it was quite painful. The elbow can be a very tricky place to deal with,” Ravichandran Ashwin said. “Whatever has been thrown at us, we have responded in a warrior-like fashion.”

India face an upheaval task in the ongoing Test as they will have to bat out of their skin to save the game. Ravindra Jadeja is already unlikely to bat in the Test after suffering a dislocation in his left thumb while batting on day three. Just like Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja has not taken the field either after suffering the hit on Saturday. The latest injuries have further deepened India’s injury woes. But despite the injury setback, Ravichandran Ashwin has said India are not ruinn the injuries and is focused on the task at hand.

“As a team inside the dressing room, we haven’t really spoken about how things are not going our way. Sometimes when they don’t go your way, they don’t and that’s how the sport is. But we refrain from talking about things that are not in our control. I personally feel with whatever has been thrown at us, we have responded in a very warrior-like fashion and we would like to continue and even take the fight tomorrow,” Ravichandran Ashwin said.

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