Sitanshu Kotak confirms Rishabh Pant will bat on Day 2 of Colombo Test

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that Rishabh Pant will be fit to bat on Day 2 of the Colombo Test after the wicketkeeper-batter was forced to retire hurt on Sunday. Pant had been struck on the left wrist by a short delivery late in the first day, a blow that saw him leave the field after treatment; Kotak said, "Rishabh Pant will be fine to bat tomorrow."

India finished Day 1 on 300 for five after winning the toss and electing to bat, with Devdutt Padikkal making 117 off 193 balls for his second century of the series. Shubman Gill provided a half-century and shared a 120-run stand with Padikkal that steadied the innings following early dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. When Pant left the field, Ravindra Jadeja walked out to bat in his place.

The blow to Pant arrived in the 58th over, shortly after tea, when a short delivery from Lahiru Kumara struck his left wrist as he attempted a pull and only managed to glove the ball. A team physio attended to Pant, applied an ice pack and he then walked off the field, triggering the mid-innings change.

India lost two further wickets in the final session; Padikkal was dismissed shortly before the second new ball and Jadeja fell for 43 in the final over of the day. At stumps Dhruv Jurel was unbeaten on seven and Saransh Jain on four.

The coaching staff expect Pant to rejoin the batting when required on the second morning, an update Kotak provided after the day’s play and one that will affect India’s lower-order options. The team aim to add quick runs early on Day 2 and move toward a substantial first-innings total, while managing increasing assistance for the spinners as the match progresses.

Sri Lanka will seek to remove the remaining wickets quickly to prevent India from building a commanding first-innings score. Pant is expected to resume his innings when required on the second morning, and India will resume their chase of a larger total at the start of Day 2.