ENG vs IND 2018: Dinesh Karthik Likely To Miss Trent Bridge Test After Injuring Finger

There is absolutely no end to India’s miseries in the ongoing England vs India Test series. The latest report coming from England is that wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has injured his finger ahead of the crucial third Test at Trent Bridge, starting today. As a result, Rishabh Pant is now in contention to make his Test debut.

The news was revealed by Harsha Bhogle. The ace commentator also mentioned that Rishabh Pant has been in the thick of things which perhaps indicates that the youngster is set for his much-awaited Test debut.

“We are seeing a lot of Rishabh Pant here actually. With Dinesh Karthik, I don’t know if the finger injury is hurting as well. But Pant is looking in the thick of the things,” Bhogle told Cribuzz. 

Meanwhile, there are reports suggesting that Karthik might make way for Pant in the third Test. He has looked lost in front of the moving ball and has also struggled behind the wicket. Out of the four innings, he had two ducks, and 20 of his 21 runs so far came in the second innings at Edgbaston. What has further made things worse for him is his technique, which has resulted in him getting bowled twice and lbw once.

As a result, the calls to include Pant in the playing eleven have increased.  Pant recently impressed for India A while playing two four-day games against West Indies A and England Lions.  In the two first-class matches he played on the tour, Pant scored a total of 189 runs, at an average of 63 including three half-centuries.

Prior to that, he had a sensational IPL.

Pant ended as the second highest run-getter in the tournament with 684 runs from 14 games for Delhi Daredevils. It included five fifties and one century. But as far as his inclusion in the playing eleven is concerned, the team management has kept the cards close to their chest.

Talking about other injuries, Jasprit Bumrah has recovered fully from his injury and is set to make a return to the side. He will most likely replace Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI. Kuldeep failed to make a mark in the second Test where he went wicketless.

India are trailing the series 2-0 and need to at least draw the upcoming game to keep the series alive.