Team India has been dealt a significant blow in the ongoing Lord’s Test against England. Star wicketkeeper and Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant will not be taking the field on the second day due to a finger injury. The BCCI has confirmed that Pant has been advised to rest after a medical assessment.

Pant’s absence means Dhruv Jurel will step in to bat in his place, and India will miss Pant’s services behind the stumps and potentially with the bat if his condition doesn't improve. His absence is particularly worrying given the form he has shown throughout the series. Pant scored centuries in both innings of the first Test and followed that up with a fifty in the second Test.

On the morning of Day 2, Pant attempted to hold the bat but experienced discomfort, prompting team management and medical staff to decide against risking him further. There is no provision for a like-for-like replacement in the playing XI for injury during the match, which could leave India effectively one batter short if Pant cannot recover in time.

The injury occurred during Day 1 when Pant took a blow to his finger while trying to stop a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah down the leg side. The ball struck his left hand, which is his dominant hand. Fortunately, early reports confirm there is no fracture, offering a slight relief to the team and fans.