Rishabh Pant struck during Day 1 of second Test in Colombo

Rishabh Pant was hit by a delivery while batting on Day 1 of the second Test between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo, leaving him in visible discomfort during the first innings.

India arrived in Colombo for the second Test of their 2026 tour of Sri Lanka carrying a 165-run advantage from the opening match at Galle and were aiming for a series sweep; Pant had been influential in India’s second innings in the first Test and was named in the Indian XI for this match with Dhruv Jurel named as the second wicket-keeping option.

The blow occurred in the 58th over when Lahiru Kumara’s short delivery struck Pant on the glove region as the left-hander attempted to pull; the impact to his wrist bone prompted physios to enter, umpires to check on him and Pant to leave the field.

After Pant walked off, Ravindra Jadeja was sent in to bat alongside Devdutt Padikkal, who is playing another gem of an innings in Colombo, while Lahiru Kumara’s bouncer was recorded as the delivery that hit Pant.

An official update on Pant’s injury is awaited from the Indian dugout and his return will depend on the team’s medical assessment; if he is unable to continue, Dhruv Jurel will stand in as deputy behind the stumps.

Jurel rose to immediate glory during the India tour of England when he filled in for Rishabh Pant on multiple occasions after the player had to leave the field due to an injury, and Shubman Gill remains India’s highest scorer in the WTC.

India’s medical staff will monitor Pant’s condition ahead of their next commitments: the team will travel to play New Zealand in a two-match Test series away from home and later host Australia in a five-match home Test series relevant to their WTC hopes.