New Delhi. Amidst the second Test being played between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo, Team India's concern has increased regarding the injury of Rishabh Pant. Pant could not come on the field for wicketkeeping on the third day of the match. In his place, Dhruv Jurel took the responsibility behind the wicket. Pant was hit by a ball on his shoulder while batting on the second day, after which the effect of the injury was visible on his body and the movement was also not normal. Giving information about Pant's condition, Team India's bowling coach Morne Morkel said that the team is constantly monitoring his injury and it is expected that he can return to the field for wicketkeeping on the fourth day.
According to Morkel, there was discussion about Pant's injury even in the night after he was hit by the ball on his shoulder. The next day, when he came to the field for warm-up, his movement appeared limited. This was the reason why the team management decided to keep him away from wicketkeeping. Pant was also seen with a bandage on his hand in the dressing room on the third day. However, at present no serious official update has come regarding his injury and the team will keep an eye on his condition throughout the night.
Pant's presence on the field for wicketkeeping is considered very important for Team India. Morkel said that the way Pant reads the game and understands the conditions on the field is very useful for the team. In such a situation, the Indian team would like Pant to become fully fit and return behind the wicket as soon as possible. The decision regarding his availability on the fourth day can be taken after seeing his fitness and condition in the morning.
Amidst Pant's injury, Dhruv Jurel took over the responsibility of wicketkeeping. Jurel has already performed brilliantly with the bat in this test and has proved his worth by scoring a century. In such a situation, if Pant is not able to keep wickets even on the fourth day, then Jurel will once again have a big responsibility. However, the first priority of the team will be to keep Pant completely fit so that the injury does not become serious further.
Meanwhile, bowling coach Morne Morkel also said something important about Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep remained out of the race for selection for the Colombo Test due to viral fever. Morkel said that the final selection decision is not in his hands but if Kuldeep was fully available, his name would definitely have been included in the selection discussion. According to the team management, Kuldeep was suffering from viral fever since Galle and that is why he was not selected in the second test.
Now the Indian team will look to wrap up Sri Lanka's innings quickly on the fourth day of the Test. India have posted a strong score of 500 runs on the board and Sri Lanka still have two wickets left. Morkel said that India will have to focus on achieving a breakthrough in the beginning and after that the bowlers will have to continuously maintain the pressure with the right line and length.
On the third day, Sri Lanka's lower order definitely troubled the Indian bowlers for some time. Sonal Dinusha along with Keshara Nuvantha and Lahiru Kumara struggled in the last round. Morkel admitted that the Indian team wanted to end Sri Lanka's innings as soon as possible but in Test cricket, lower-order partnerships can also change the course of the match. He also said that after the Kookaburra ball becomes soft, it can be difficult for the bowlers to get extra bounce and pace from the pitch.
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अब सबसे बड़ा सवाल यही है कि क्या ऋषभ पंत चौथे दिन विकेटकीपिंग के लिए मैदान पर उतरेंगे। टीम इंडिया को उम्मीद है कि उनकी चोट रातभर में बेहतर होगी और वह फिर से दस्ताने संभाल पाएंगे। हालांकि अंतिम फैसला उनकी फिटनेस जांच के बाद ही होगा। पंत की वापसी भारत के लिए इसलिए भी अहम होगी क्योंकि टीम मजबूत स्थिति में है और मैच को निर्णायक दिशा में ले जाने के लिए विकेटकीपिंग के साथ उनकी मैदान पर मौजूदगी बड़ा फर्क डाल सकती है।