ENG vs IND 2025: No batting substitute for Rishabh Pant? Parthiv Patel backs ICC rule

Former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel admitted that, while Rishabh Pant’s injury during the Manchester Test was regrettable, there is nothing wrong with the ICC rule that prohibits replacement wicketkeepers from batting. If Dhruv Jurel replaces Pant in the fourth Test, he can keep wickets but not bat.

“A substitute shall not bowl [or bat] or act as captain, but may act as wicket-keeper only with the consent of the umpires.” Since 2017, the MCC has authorised substitute wicketkeepers in circumstances of real injury or illness, as long as the on-field umpires consent, according to Section 24.1.2 of the ICC playing conditions.

Meanwhile, Parthiv, a former Indian cricketer, has consented to the ICC’s playing criteria involving the substitution of a wicketkeeper. He alleged that a few players frequently violated the concussion substitute rule.

As a result, the Gujarat native believes that, while Rishabh Pant has been harmed, the apex regulating council’s guidelines are completely fair.

“See, there are already quite a few grey areas that teams attempt to exploit. We’ve seen how the concussion rule is occasionally abused, just as it is in T20 cricket. So, in an ongoing game, what do you do if someone is injured? He stated as quoted by India Today.

“I think it’s only fair. At least now, the rule has changed so that a wicketkeeper can be replaced by another wicketkeeper. Earlier, that wasn’t even allowed — someone else from the team would have had to keep wickets. But I’m okay with the rule. It’s unfortunate that Rishabh got hit, but it is what it is. What can you do about it?,” he added.

On Day 1 at Old Trafford, Pant suffered a painful blow to his toe while attempting a reverse scoop off Chris Woakes. He winced in pain immediately after being hit and received on-field treatment. However, he was unable to recover and had to leave the field, later being taken away in an ambulance. At the time of the injury, Pant was batting on 37 off 48 balls, with two fours and one six.