In a big boost to India's hopes of saving (or pulling off a miracle) the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, injured wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was seen doing light batting training on Friday. During the Tea break on Day 3, Pant walked out with his pads on and faced throw-downs as coach Gautam Gambhir was keeping a close eye on him from the dressing room at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Rishabh Pant will be available to bat for India, if needed, in the second innings of the Test. Pant did not keep wickets on Friday after taking a blow to his knee on Day 2. While Dhruv Jurel kept wickets for India in his absence, a substitute wicketkeeper cannot bat for the team.
There were cheers from the Bengaluru crowd when Pant walked out in his training kit to face throw-downs during the Tea break. India conceded a 356-run lead in the first innings to New Zealand after getting bowled out for 46, their lowest Test total at home.
The Indian cricket board (BCCI) confirmed on Friday morning that Pant would not keep wickets on Day 3 and his injury was being monitored by the BCCI medical team.
Captain Rohit Sharma confirmed on Thursday that Pant not keeping wickets in the final session on Day 2 was a precautionary move after swelling on his knee.
"The ball went and hit straight on his knee cap, the leg which he had surgery on. So, he has got a little bit of swelling on it. The muscles are bit tender at this point of time. It's a precautionary measure," Rohit had said.
India came up with a solid start to their second innings, reaching 57 for 0 at the Tea break. Both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma looked assured in the middle as the pitch was helpful to the batters. The two openers did not go into a shell and went on to play in a free-flowing manner as they scored at nearly 4 runs per over.
India would love to have Rishabh Pant in the second innings, considering his heroics in the past. Pant played a key role in India's heroic draw in the Sydney Test of 2021 and the momentous victory in the Gabba Test.
