IND vs NZ 2024: Injured Rishabh Pant spotted practicing batting during Tea break on Day 3
The BCCI intimated at the start of Day 3 regarding Rishabh Pant's unavailability to keep the wickets for the day, however, his batting was always a possibility.
Star wicketkeeper-batter of the Indian team, Rishabh Pant, was snapped practising some drives along the ground during the Tea break on Day 3 of the first Test between India and New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. He was looking a bit iffy with his footwork, and understandably so.
The BCCI, right at the start of Day 3 announced that the wicketkeeper won't be available to keep the wickets for the day, and as a result, Dhruv Jurel took over the glovework's responsibility. However, no updates were made regarding his availability to bat on the day, if the need be.
Watch the video of Pant batting practice here:
Also Read: IND vs NZ 2024: Rishabh Pant to not take field on Day 3 in Bengaluru Test
For context, the 37th over of the first innings on Day 2 of the New Zealand saw Pant not only missing a chance for a stumping to get rid of Devon Conway, but also take a blow on the upper part of his knee, collecting a flat and spinning delivery by Ravindra Jadeja.
Pant immediately went down while wincing in pain. The physio did come out on the field to attend to the wicketkeeper. However, Pant was unable to operate in full capacity as he limped his way back to beyond the boundary ropes where he was provided more treatment to the affected spot after being made to sit on a chair. It was Dhruv Jurel who was subbed into the fill the void behind the stumps. The young Jurel did claim a catch to dismiss the Kiwi centurion Rachin Ravindra to mark the end of the Black Caps' first innings.
Rohit Sharma's unlucky dismissal following fighting half-century
As for the current developments occurring in the ongoing match, Rohit Sharma was dismissed minutes after bringing up his 18th half-century in Tests. A series of boundaries which included a trademark pull over the deep midwicket fence saw Rohit accelerate his innings.
Also Read: IND vs NZ 2024: Aakash Chopra backs India to score 400-450 in second innings
However, an unlucky dismissal saw the end of Rohit. He did defend the ball by Ajaz Patel off the front foot, but a soft bottom hand and an angled bat pointed towards the ground more than the bowler saw the ball trickle back to dislodge the bails.
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