Watch: Rishabh Pant goes for batting practice during tea break after injury scare

In a positive sign for India, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was seen warming up during the tea break of the first Test against New Zealand, currently underway at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Pant was hit on the knee while keeping wickets on the second day and was forced off the field, with Dhruv Jurel replacing him behind the stumps.

On Day 3 too, Pant didn’t keep the wickets, instead Jurel took over the duties. However, after the end of the second session, the 27-year-old was seen taking batting practice, suggesting he could be available to bat during the second innings if required.

At the start of the third day, BCCI shared an update via social media informing that Pant will not take the field as he is being monitored by the medical team.

“Mr Rishabh Pant will not keep any wickets on Day 3. The BCCI medical team is monitoring his progress,” the statement said.

Pant was hit on the right knee in the 37th over of New Zealand’s innings when a ball from Ravindra Jadeja turned sharply inwards and hit his right knee while Devon Conway took the hit.

Pant had undergone multiple surgeries on his right knee after that horrific car accident in December 2022.

“Unfortunately the ball hit his kneecap directly, the same leg he had surgery on. So he has a little swelling and the muscles are quite tender at this point,” Rohit told the media on Thursday.

“It is a precautionary measure. We don’t want to take any risks. Rishabh doesn’t want to take any risk as he has undergone massive surgery on this leg,” he said.

“So that was his reason for going in. Hopefully he can recover tonight and we will see him back on the field tomorrow,” Rohit added.

New Zealand were bowled out for 402 runs in their first innings, giving them a huge lead of 356 runs over India.

With PTI inputs