Rishabh Pant sits out Day 3 of second Test in Colombo after wrist blow and shoulder discomfort

Rishabh Pant did not take the field on Day 3 of the second Test between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo after experiencing pain following an earlier injury; Dhruv Jurel assumed wicket-keeping duties on Day 2. India had declared their first innings on Day 2 at 503/9.

India amassed 503/9 before declaring in the final moments of Day 2, with Devdutt Padikkal recording his second century of the series and Dhruv Jurel compiling an unbeaten century. Captain Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja and Yashasvi Jaiswal provided further contributions to that total.

Pant suffered a blow to his wrist from a delivery by Sri Lankan pacer Lahiru Kumara on Day 1 and initially retired hurt, then returned to bat on Day 2 to score 63 off 89 balls, including two sixes. After that innings, Pant did not resume his usual wicket-keeping role when India took the field on Day 2 and Jurel took the gloves.

As Dhruv Jurel explained at the end of Day 2, Pant was relieved of wicket-keeping duties not only because of the wrist impact but also due to subsequent discomfort in his right shoulder following his batting innings; Pant decided not to take the field on Day 3. The report states he was hit on the wrist while attempting a pull shot and initially received treatment before returning to bat.

The Indian management are treating Pant with precaution, seeking to allow him maximum flexibility and to avoid placing unnecessary strain on the injured areas, and there has been no update on the precise status of his injuries. The article notes Pant has missed several important matches previously owing to injuries.

Rishabh Pant is credited in the report with having the most overseas centuries for India (6). Separately, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is listed as holding the record for the most dismissals by an Indian wicket-keeper in Test cricket, with a total of 294 dismissals.

The match remains affected by rain and India’s second innings is yet to be played in the rain-hit fixture; Pant is described as potentially one of the most valuable batters in India’s lineup for the remaining innings.