IND vs NZ 2024: Rishabh Pant to not take field on Day 3 in Bengaluru Test

India and New Zealand kicked off Day 3 of their ongoing first Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After a roller coaster of a Day 2 the hosts will hope for an improved showing on the following day. However, with the start of the play, team India have been hit with a major roadblock after wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was absent.

On Day 2 of the clash, Pant was hit with the ball on his right knee and immediately went down in pain. After the physio came onto the field, the star wicketkeeper batter wobbled off the field as Dhruv Jurel came in as the replaced keeper. 

It seems that the same will be the case on day 3 of the clash. The BCCI confirmed that the Indian team will be at the field without the wicketkeeping services of Pant, and as a result, Jurel has subbed the star cricketer for the third day. Whether he will be coming out to bat if needed, has not been clarified by the board yet. The medical team is currently observing his progress, and further details are awaited.

It's a precautionary measure: Rohit Sharma

After the second day of the game concluded, India skipper Rohit Sharma came forward and gave a huge update on Pant’s situation. The captain revealed that Pant had swelling on his right knee; it is worth noting that it is the same knee where Pant had the surgery done after his car accident in December 2022, which had kept him away from the game for over an year.

“Unfortunately, the ball hit straight on Rishabh's kneecap, the same leg which he's done a surgery on. So he has got a little bit of swelling on it. It's tender at this point in time, so it is a precautionary measure. That was the reason for him to go inside. Hopefully, he can recover,” said Rohit at the press conference after Stumps on Day 2.

Seemingly, team India does not want to risk worsening Pant’s injury further, and with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 rapidly approaching, the side will want Pant on the top of his game.