IND vs SL: Will Rishabh Pant bat on Day 2? India coach provides injury update
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "IND vs SL: Will Rishabh Pant bat on Day 2? India coach provides injury update")
India's Rishabh Pant walks back to the pavilion after being retired hurt Photograph: (AFP)
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that Rishabh Pant will be fit to bat on Day 2 after the wicketkeeper-batter retired hurt with a wrist injury.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has confirmed that Rishabh Pant will be fit to bat on Day 2 of the Colombo Test after the wicketkeeper-batter retired hurt on Sunday (Aug 23). Pant was hit on his left wrist by a short delivery from Lahiru Kumara during the 58th over, soon after the tea break. He tried to pull the ball but only managed to glove it and immediately looked in pain. The physio came onto the field and applied an ice pack before Pant walked off. Ravindra Jadeja then came out to bat in his place.
Speaking at the press conference after the day’s play, Kotak eased India’s concerns by confirming that Pant would return to the crease. “Rishabh Pant will be fine to bat tomorrow,” Kotak said.
The news is a major boost for India, with Pant expected to continue his innings when required on the second morning.
India finished Day 1 on 300 for five after choosing to bat first following the toss. Devdutt Padikkal was the standout performer, scoring 117 off 193 balls for his second century of the series. Shubman Gill also scored a half-century as India recovered from early setbacks.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were dismissed early, but Padikkal and Gill steadied the innings with a 120-run partnership. Gill was dismissed shortly after reaching his fifty, while Padikkal continued to hold the innings together.
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India lost two more wickets in the final session. Padikkal fell shortly before the second new ball, while Jadeja was dismissed for 43 off the final over of the day. Dhruv Jurel was unbeaten on seven, with Saransh Jain on four at stumps.
India will aim to score quickly on Day 2 and build a strong first-innings total, however, the increasing help for the spinners could make batting tougher.
Pant’s return will add strength to India’s lower order and provide another experienced batter at an important stage of the innings. His ability to score quickly could prove useful, especially if the Sri Lankan bowlers begin to tire.
For now, Jurel and Jain will look to add more runs before Pant returns to the crease. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will aim to take the remaining wickets quickly and stop India from posting a big first-innings total.
