Rishabh Pant sustained a right toe injury on Day 1 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester. In the final session, the wicketkeeper-batsman attempted to reverse sweep a delivery from Chris Woakes and was smacked on the right foot. In the fourth Test, the 27-year-old will be a specialist batsman rather than a wicketkeeper. Dhruv Jurel will assume the wicketkeeping gloves.
According to sources, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking for a suitable alternative for Pant in the fifth Test, which will be played at The Oval in London. Earlier sources stated that Ishan Kishan was in line to join the team. However, the Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batsman has reportedly injured his ankle and required 10 stitches on his left foot after falling from a scooter.
According to the latest reports, Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper N Jagadeesan is set to replace Pant.
Is Jagadeesan any good in First-Class?
Jagadeesan, 29, has played 52 first-class matches so far. He has 3373 runs under his belt, with an average of 47.50 and a strike rate of 62.40. Jagadeesan has 14 fifties and 10 centuries under his belt. He has also taken 133 catches and effected 14 stumpings.
Jagadeesan has a highest first-class score of 321, which he made against Chandigarh in Coimbatore off just 403 deliveries in the 2024-2025 Ranji Trophy. He also has an individual best of 277 in List A cricket. This is the highest individual score by a batter in List A history.
Why N Jagadeesan? Why not Sanju Samson?
N Jagadeesan is yet to make his international debut. On the other hand, Sanju Samson has played 16 ODIs and 42 T20Is for India. Some fans have been wondering whether the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter could have been given his maiden red-ball call-up to the national team.
Samson has a first-class average of a shade below 40. Jagadeesan, meanwhile, had a stellar Ranji Trophy 2024-25 campaign, scoring 674 runs from eight matches at an average of 56.16.
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