India’s hopes in the ongoing IND vs ENG Test series took a significant hit on Day 1 of the third Test at Lord’s as star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant suffered an injury to his left hand. The blow not only affected India’s on-field balance but also raised confusion among fans regarding the substitution rules in international cricket.
🩺 Rishabh Pant Injured During IND vs ENG Lord’s Test
During the 34th over of England’s first innings, Pant took a painful blow to the tip of his left index finger while attempting to stop a wide delivery from Jasprit Bumrah. Despite receiving treatment and briefly continuing, Pant was eventually forced to walk off the field, in visible discomfort.
Following this, Dhruv Jurel was brought in as a substitute wicketkeeper for the remainder of the day’s play.
🧤 Why Dhruv Jurel Can Keep Wickets But Not Bat
While Jurel impressed with the gloves—including a sharp catch off Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling to dismiss Ollie Pope—he cannot bat in Pant’s place if the latter is ruled out of the match entirely. This limitation has puzzled many fans, especially in light of the ICC’s recent rule update on injury replacements.
According to current ICC playing conditions, full player replacements (including batting and bowling rights) are only allowed for concussion cases in international matches. So unless Pant is officially diagnosed with a concussion, Jurel can only serve as a substitute wicketkeeper.
⚖️ ICC Injury Replacement Rule Explained
Last month, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced a trial of injury replacements for non-concussion cases, allowing fully participating substitutes. However, this rule currently applies only to domestic cricket and is set to take effect in October 2025 for a six-month trial period.
“A player who suffers a serious injury after the match has started may be replaced by a fully participating like-for-like player,” stated the ICC.
But since this update hasn’t been implemented in international Test cricket, Jurel’s role remains limited. According to MCC’s Law 24.1.2, a substitute cannot bat, bowl, or captain, though they may keep wickets—with umpire approval.
📢 BCCI’s Official Statement on Pant’s Injury
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released an update on social media:
“Team India vice-captain Rishabh Pant got hit on his left index finger. He is receiving treatment at the moment and is under the supervision of the medical team.”
Meanwhile, Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who picked up two wickets during the day, mentioned during the post-match press conference that he was unaware of the full extent of Pant’s injury:
“To be honest, I just came off the field and don’t know anything yet. We’ll know more tomorrow morning before we return to play,” said Reddy.
Related Angry England Captain Ben Stokes Lashes Out at Umpires on Day 1 of Lords Test
⚠️ How Pant’s Absence Affects India’s Chances
Rishabh Pant has been one of India’s top performers throughout the India vs England Test series. Losing him for the remainder of the match would mean India must play one batter short, a significant disadvantage in a tightly contested series.
While Dhruv Jurel’s wicketkeeping may cover for Pant defensively, the batting gap remains unfilled—especially in a high-pressure Test like this.
🧠 Concussion vs Injury: What’s the Difference in Substitution Rules?
| Condition | Substitution Rights | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Concussion | Full replacement (bat/bowl/keep) | Allowed in all formats |
| Other Injuries | Wicketkeeping only (with consent) | Allowed, but no batting/bowling |
| New ICC Rule (Non-concussion Injury) | Full replacement | Domestic trials from Oct 2025 |
📌 Final Word
Despite ICC’s new rule announcement, fans must understand that Rishabh Pant’s replacement with Dhruv Jurel is currently bound by the older laws. Unless Pant returns to bat, India will continue to feel his absence on the scoreboard, even if Jurel fills in behind the stumps. For now, Team India must rally with the players available and hope Pant’s injury isn’t too serious heading into the rest of the ind vs eng series.
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