Key Points:
- Rishabh Pant suffers leg fracture in Manchester Test and will miss the crucial fifth Test vs England.
- Uncapped wicketkeeper N Jagadeesan called up as replacement for the final Test at the Kennington Oval.
- Pant injured his right leg attempting a reverse sweep and still managed a gritty half-century before diagnosis.
- BCCI confirms a minimum 6-week recovery for Pant; medical team to monitor closely.
- Fifth Test begins July 31, 2025, in London; squad led by Shubman Gill with young talents and experienced bowlers.
- Pant’s exit comes as a big setback as the series hangs in the balance.
New Delhi: Team India has been dealt a major blow ahead of the final and decisive fifth Test against England, as star wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has been officially ruled out due to a fracture in his right leg sustained during the drawn fourth Test at Manchester. In a late-night announcement following the match, the BCCI confirmed Pant’s injury and named Narayan Jagadeesan as his replacement for the crucial Oval Test starting July 31, 2025.
Pant Injured After Gritty Performance
The injury occurred on Day 1 when Pant, confident as ever, attempted a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes only to suffer a direct blow to his right leg. He was immediately forced off the field in considerable pain. Despite medical advice of six weeks’ rest, Pant made a determined comeback to bat on Day 2, bravely compiling a valuable half-century before scans revealed a fracture forcing him out of action.
BCCI Statement and Replacement News
In its official release, the BCCI stated:
“Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test of the series after sustaining a fracture to his right leg during the fourth Test. The BCCI medical team is monitoring his recovery and wishes him a speedy return to cricket.”
The selection committee has drafted uncapped Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batter N Jagadeesan into the squad. Jagadeesan, having performed consistently in domestic cricket and the IPL, gets his first Test call-up and is likely to compete with Dhruv Jurel for the wicketkeeping spot.
India’s Squad for the Fifth Test at The Oval
- Shubman Gill (Captain)
- KL Rahul
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Sai Sudharsan
- Karun Nair
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Dhruv Jurel (wk)
- Washington Sundar
- Shardul Thakur
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
- Akash Deep
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Abhimanyu Easwaran
- Anshul Kamboj
- Arshdeep Singh
- N Jagadeesan (wk)
The pivotal Test kicks off on July 31 at The Kennington Oval, London, with the series outcome on the line. Pant’s absence adds pressure on India’s middle order and wicketkeeping resources, making it a true test of depth for skipper Shubman Gill’s young and evolving side.
