India’s injury crisis has deepened with multiple players sidelined in the IND vs ENG Test series. Rishabh Pant is the latest to suffer a blow. India’s vice-captain fractured his foot while trying to play a reverse sweep on Day 1 of the IND vs ENG Manchester Test. While he came to bat on Day 2, he will not keep wickets and is all set to miss the final Test at the Oval. With Ishan Kishan also nursing an ankle injury, the BCCI has called up Tamil Nadu’s Narayan Jagadeesan as the cover for Dhruv Jurel, who is set to feature in the Oval Test.
As per a Cricbuzz report, the BCCI will make an announcement shortly on Jagadeesan’s inclusion in the Test squad. Ishan Kishan suffered an injury after crashing a scooter. While another wicketkeeper-batter, KS Bharat, is already in England, playing for Dulwich Cricket Club, the selectors are not interested in looking back.
Who is N Jagadeesan?
A domestic stalwart, N Jagadeesan, has been knocking on the Team India door with consistent performances for Tamil Nadu in Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. However, with no luck in the IPL, he hasn’t been able to crack the code of Team India. But with Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan both injured, Jagadeesan will get to rub shoulders with Team India.
Narayan Jagadeesan has scored 3373 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 47.50. In Ranji Trophy 2023-24, Jagadeesan scored 816 runs at an average of 74.18, including a triple and a double century. In the last Ranji Trophy captain, the keeper-batter scored 674 runs at an average of 56.17.
India’s injury crisis
With India playing the series decider in Manchester, they are in a crisis. Pacers Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh both missed out on the IND vs ENG Manchester Test with injuries, while all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy had to return home with a knee injury. Rishabh Pant had suffered a finger injury at Lord’s and then a foot injury in Manchester. Add Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management, and things get complicated.
With the fifth and final Test beginning on July 31 at the Oval, London, Team India won’t have a long break. Hence, Rishabh Pant is unlikely to be fit while there are question marks on Arshdeep and Akash Deep as well.
| Player | Injury | Status | Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rishabh Pant | Fractured foot | Out of 5th Test | TBA |
| Akash Deep | Groin injury | Out of 4th Test | No replacement |
| Arshdeep Singh | Finger injury | Out of 4th Test | No replacement |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | Knee injury | Out of Test series | Anshul Kamboj |
