Morkel says Rishabh Pant’s right shoulder badly bruised after Day 3 in Colombo

Morne Morkel provided an update on Rishabh Pant’s condition after Day 3 of the second Test between India and Sri Lanka at the SSC Cricket Ground in Colombo on August 25, confirming Pant missed India’s second-innings fielding because of a shoulder problem.

India finished Day 3 with Sri Lanka trailing by 238 runs at the SSC, with Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar taking three wickets apiece while Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja claimed one each. Sri Lanka’s Sonal Dinusha was unbeaten on 85, batting alongside Lahiru Kumara at stumps. Dhruv Jurel’s unbeaten 115 on Day 2 pushed India past the 500-run mark in their first innings.

Pant was forced off the field after suffering a blow to his wrist on Day 1 that prompted a retired hurt, but he returned on Day 2 to score 63. During that innings he sustained multiple blows from the Sri Lankan short-ball tactic, including two serious impacts to his right shoulder, and continued batting until his dismissal; he did not keep in India’s second innings.

On Day 3 Pant’s right shoulder was taped and Jurel took the gloves in his absence. India’s pace-bowling coach, Morne Morkel, spoke to reporters after play and said: "His right shoulder is badly bruised. When he tried warm up this morning, his movement was restricted. They’ll be monitoring him tonight. Hopefully he’ll be behind the stumps tomorrow."

The team noted Pant’s status within the Test side, describing him as one of the senior cricketers whose energy and inputs from behind the stumps matter to India. The outcome of the fixture carries broader significance for India’s standing in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 qualification pathway.

India will begin Day 4 attempting to enforce the follow-on and complete a 2-0 series win, with Pant’s availability for wicket-keeping to be assessed overnight as confirmed by Morkel.