Team India’s star wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant’s accident has put everyone in worry about his health. The Indian team, BCCI and Indian cricket fans want to see this great player back on the field soon, but at the moment it does not seem possible. In the horrific accident that happened on Friday 30 December, Pant’s life was saved and there was no serious injury, but there have been so many wounds that he cannot return to the field at least for the next few weeks. In such a situation, his place in India’s Test team is currently vacant, which has not only one but at least 3 contenders.
Pant suffered injuries in several parts including forehead, back, wrist and ankle in the accident, but the most troublesome injury in this is the knee. Rishabh Pant’s knee ligament tear in the accident has put a big hurdle in his chances of an early comeback. Although the situation regarding its seriousness is not clear at the moment, but according to the news agency PTI, if the sources of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are to be believed, then he will not be able to play in the four-Test series against Australia.
A BCCI source told PTI on the condition of confidentiality, there is still a lot of swelling due to which MRI of ankle and knee is yet to be done. Once he is fit to travel, he will come to Mumbai where he will be under the supervision of Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who is empaneled by the board.
According to the report, due to this injury, Rishabh Pant is sure to be out of cricket for a long time and it is too early to tell any date at this time. In such a situation, the selection of the main wicketkeeper and his backup will be one of the biggest challenges before the new selection committee to be appointed soon for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting on February 9. Although Pant’s backup keeper KS Bharat is at the forefront of the race in this race, but looking at the current situation, he is not the only contender.
According to the PTI report, apart from Bharat, two other keepers, Upendra Yadav and Ishan Kishan of Uttar Pradesh are also involved in the race. Everyone knows about Ishan that in ODI and T20 cricket, he has been seen leaving his mark in international cricket. On the other hand, the Indian fan does not know much about Upendra. Upendra is a 26-year-old wicket-keeper batsman, who is a part of the UP team. He has so far scored 1390 runs in 32 first class matches at an average of 44, including 4 centuries and 5 half-centuries. Upendra was recently included in the India A team on the Bangladesh tour.
Bharat will obviously be the first choice as he has been a part of every series with Team India for the last one year as the backup wicketkeeper. But he too has not made his Test debut yet. In such a situation, if the new selection committee and team management choose Upendra or Ishan as a surprise, then this possibility cannot be ruled out. The specialty of both these wicketkeepers is that they have the ability to bat fast in the lower order.
