On Day 1 of the third Test between India and England, spectators held their breath as Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant suffered a painful blow to his fingertips, forcing him to leave the field. The moment left fans and experts concerned, as the left-hander has been a vital part of India’s batting unit.
Dhruv Jurel replaces Rishabh Pant behind the stumps after finger injury on Day 1 of Lord’s Test
During the first ball of the 34th over, Jasprit Bumrah delivered a full-length ball that drifted down the leg side to Ollie Pope, who attempted a fine glance but missed. The ball sped past the batter, and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, diving sharply to his left, failed to collect it cleanly. It ran away for two byes, but all attention quickly turned to Pant, who was clearly in discomfort. The delivery had struck the already-strapped fingertips of his left hand, an area that had required treatment earlier in the day. Grimacing in pain, Pant hopped around behind the stumps as the team physio rushed in with spray and water to provide immediate relief. With his injury visibly troubling him, Pant eventually walked off the field, and Dhruv Jurel took over wicketkeeping duties in the following over.
Here’s the video:
Dhruv Jurel takes the gloves as Rishabh Pant goes off for treatment on his hand 🔃 pic.twitter.com/LGDgi34IN7
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 10, 2025
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Pant’s fitness a major concern after finger blow
Pant’s injury poses a significant concern for India. The left-hander has been a cornerstone of the team’s Test middle order in recent years, combining flair with reliability. In this series too, Pant has been in sublime form, not only piling on the runs but doing so at a brisk pace that has repeatedly turned the tide in India’s favor. Across just four innings, he has amassed 342 runs at an astonishing average of 85.50, including twin centuries at Headingley, playing the role of the aggressor in critical moments.
With Pant off the field due to a hand injury, the spotlight swiftly shifted to Jurel, who donned the gloves as a substitute, and made an immediate impact. Just after the tea break, drama unfolded on the very first delivery. Ravindra Jadeja floated one on a teasing length, generating subtle turn. Ollie Pope, eyeing a boundary, committed to a firm drive through the off side, but was caught off guard by the ball’s late deviation.
The ball grazed the outside edge and flew towards Jurel, who was keeping up to the stumps. In a flash, the debutant leaped to his right and, with astonishing reflexes, pulled off a blinder of a catch, snatching it mid-air in a moment of brilliance. Pope, visibly stunned, dropped his head into his hands in disbelief, aware that he had squandered his hard-earned innings with one impetuous shot.
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