- July 12, 2025
As if Indian supporters hadn’t seen it all, Day 2 of the 3rd Test at Lord’s had a new wrinkle – Rishabh Pant, India’s first-choice keeper, the flashy left-hander, will not be wearing the gloves. The gloves are with Dhruv Jurel for now. Could this be signaling a deeper worry regarding Rishabh Pant’s fitness? And what adjustments might India need to make? Let’s get into details about this surprising situation and what it might mean for the balance of the match – and perhaps the series.
Pant’s Injury: More Than Just a Bruised Finger?
On the opening day of play, Rishabh Pant suffered an injury to his left index finger while wicketkeeping and didn’t return after the second session. While there wasn’t too much concern at the start of the day, the BCCI’s morning update confirmed fans’ worst fears when they confirmed Pant was still recovering and wouldn’t be keeping wickets on Day 2. That’s a big deal. Although Pant was probably batting with some discomfort in the morning drills before play, the fact that Pant could not keep wickets simply shows how serious the injury is.
Fit or not, Pant might not bat—and that leaves India with a tricky decision to make. His reckless strokeplay requires acute reflexes and freedom of movement (which is hard to come by when your index finger is pulsing with pain).
Enter Dhruv Jurel: Calm, Composed, and Clutch
Even as a substitute, Dhruv Jurel proved his worth with a jaw-dropping reflex catch that ended Ollie Pope’s innings right after Tea on Day 1. Just like that, he stole the headlines. He is not a stranger to tempers flaring—he made a decent impression during Pant’s extended rehab following the horrible accident in 2022. In his debut series against England last year, he announced himself with a whopping seven dismissals.
On the upside, Jurel’s glove work looks good, and the team doesn’t seem shaken. On the downside, he can not bat for Pant. According to ICC laws, replacements can only be made on a concussion or COVID-19 basis and fully replace the starter with both bat and ball, so unless Pant is ready to bat, India is effectively playing with nine wickets. And on a Lord’s pitch that requires deep batting and resilience, this is a state of affairs where you are at a distinct tactical disadvantage.
Tactical Shake-up: India’s Real Challenge Now
The genuine problem is not only losing Pant’s impact, but also the domino effect. With Pant potentially compromised, or perhaps completely missing from the batting lineup, the middle order is under considerable pressure. Rohit, Gill, and Kohli now have infinitely more riding on them to be able to initially withstand and absorb the early blows and hold it all together.
Most importantly, the energy that Pant brings as wicketkeeper—his constant chatter, impish grins, and acute reflexes- is challenging to replicate. It’s not tangible but essential, especially when the pressure is highest in Tests. Jurel is an outstanding cricketer, but Pant’s absence leaves a different gap.
Rishabh Pant’s injury may not be career-ending, but you would be hard-pressed to come up with a worse time for it to happen. India’s struggle for form at the historic Lord’s means that every moment—be it a wicket, a run, or a lapse—will be under the microscope. With Jurel holding his ground and Pant in doubt, India has to deal with a lot more than just the physical in their resolve to prove it is more than a fluke.
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