IND vs NZ | Rishabh Pant Injured While Wicket-Keeping, Physio Rushed Him out the Field, Will the Star Batter Play Again?

India faced a significant injury concern when star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant limped off the field after taking a hit to his knee during the first Test of the three-match series against New Zealand at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on October 17. The alarming moment occurred on the final ball of the 37th over of New Zealand’s innings. Ravindra Jadeja bowled a brilliant delivery to Devon Conway, which came close to creating a dramatic wicket.

How Did the Injury Happen?

The ball pitched right in the footmarks, sharply spinning as Conway went for a risky drive, misjudging Jadeja’s delivery entirely. Instead of hitting the off stump, the ball barely grazed it before slamming into Rishabh Pant’s unprotected knee.

The force of the impact was intense, leaving Pant grimacing in pain on the ground. With the physio rushing over, worries about the seriousness of the injury increased. Pant was seen removing his right pad while the physio evaluated the situation. Later, he was taken out of the field with the help of physio and other players.

This incident involved the same right knee he had injured in his terrible car crash in December 2022. Meanwhile, Dhruv Jurel quickly entered the field, ready to step in as he put on Pant’s gloves. Fans can only hope that a quick icing will help Pant bounce back and return to the action soon.

Rishabh Pant’s Resilience in 1st Innings

Earlier in the first Test between India and New Zealand, Rishabh Pant fell to Matt Henry, caught by Tom Latham at second slip for 20 runs off 49 balls, which included two boundaries. However, this was the highest individual score from any batter. This marked India’s eighth wicket, contributing to what was a disastrous day for the team, as they were eventually bundled out for just 46 runs.