Rishabh Pant Doubtful for India vs West Indies Two-Test Series; Jurel Could Get Opportunity: Reports

India’s wicketkeeper and vice-captain Rishabh Pant may not be fit for the two-Test series at home against West Indies. Dhruv Jurel, who hit a century in the first unofficial Test against Australia A in Lucknow could get the chance to be the main wicketkeeper. Pant got injured on the first day of the Old Trafford Test against England when a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes hit his foot. He had to stop batting at 37 runs and was taken off the field on a golf cart. But he came back the next day and continued his innings.

Rishabh Pant managed to score 54 runs from 75 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes before he was ruled out. Dhruv Jurel did the wicketkeeping duties in that match. Pant also missed the fifth and final Test. He has now come back to India and after meeting a specialist in Mumbai is walking without trouble. The left-hander will continue his recovery at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

A report from RevSportz says Rishabh Pant is unlikely to be selected for the upcoming two-Test series against West Indies, as his recovery may take more time. The Indian squad is expected to be announced around the India A vs Australia A match, which starts on September 23. The report also mentioned that even though Pant is walking fine now, there is only a very small chance of him being fit enough to play the two Tests against the West Indies.

Pant’s Stellar Series: 479 Runs with Two Centuries and Three Fifties

Rishabh Pant was made the Test vice-captain under captain Shubman Gill for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 after Rohit Sharma retired from red-ball cricket. In the series, Pant scored 479 runs in seven innings averaging 68.42 with two centuries and three fifties. He also broke MS Dhoni’s record for the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper.

Pant’s run in the series was affected by injuries. A finger problem meant Dhruv Jurel had to keep wickets in the Lord’s Test. Pant got injured again in the fourth match and missed the fifth and final Test at The Oval. Narayan Jagadeesan was brought in as the backup wicketkeeper. India won the final Test by six runs, which helped them level the series against England.

Dhruv Jurel made the most of his chance in the first unofficial Test against Australia A. He scored 140 runs from 197 balls, hitting 13 fours and 4 sixes. He also shared a 228-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Devdutt Padikkal. India A declared at 531/7, just behind Australia A’s 532/6 declared. This was Jurel’s second first-class century in 26 matches. His previous best was 249 for Uttar Pradesh in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy. The right-handed batter has been in good form recently, scoring 227 runs at an average of 75.66 on India A’s England tour, including three fifties in four innings.

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