Star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test match against England, set to commence on July 31 at The Oval in London. Pant sustained a fractured metatarsal in his right foot while attempting a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes on the opening day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester.
India's Tour Of England 2025: Rishabh Pant Ruled Out Of Fifth Test; Narayan Jagadeesan Added To IND Squad
To fill the void left by Pant, Tamil Nadu's 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Narayan Jagadeesan has received his maiden Test call-up
The BCCI confirmed Pant's unavailability on Sunday, stating that scans revealed a fracture that will keep him out for the remainder of the tour. The BCCI Medical Team will continue to monitor his recovery.
To fill the void left by Pant, Tamil Nadu's 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Narayan Jagadeesan has received his maiden Test call-up. Jagadeesan's inclusion provides India with a second specialist wicketkeeper in the squad alongside Dhruv Jurel, as KL Rahul is not keeping wickets due to ongoing fitness concerns.
Pant's absence is a considerable blow to the Indian side, especially given his impactful performances in the ongoing series. He is India's third-highest run-scorer with 479 runs from seven innings at an impressive average of 68.42, including two centuries and three half-centuries. His counter-attacking style has been particularly valuable in English conditions.
Jagadeesan, known for his consistent performances in domestic cricket, brings a wealth of first-class experience to the squad. He has amassed 3,373 runs from 52 first-class matches at an average of 47.50, featuring 10 centuries and 14 half-centuries. In the recent 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, he was Tamil Nadu's top scorer with 674 runs in eight matches, including two centuries and five fifties. Reports suggest that Ishan Kishan was initially considered as Pant's replacement, but an ankle injury sidelined him.
The five-match ICC World Test Championship series currently stands at 2-1 in England's favour. India levelled the series at Edgbaston after losing the opener at Trent Bridge. England then regained the lead with a narrow victory at Lord's, while the fourth Test at Old Trafford concluded in a hard-fought draw. India will be aiming for a win at The Oval to draw the series, while England will be looking to seal it 3-1.
India's updated squad for the fifth Test
Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj, Arshdeep Singh, Narayan Jagadeesan (wk)
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