India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed on Sunday (July 27) that Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the remainder of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy due to injury. The Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batter Narayan Jagadeesan, who has previously represented Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL, has been named as Pant’s replacement for the fifth and final Test.
Pant suffered a metatarsal fracture after being struck on the foot by a fierce Chris Woakes yorker on the opening day of the fourth Test. Though advised six weeks of rest, the gritty wicketkeeper came out to bat again on Day 2 and managed to score 16 runs, despite being in visible discomfort.
Gambhir Hails Pant’s Courage
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gambhir praised Pant’s extraordinary commitment:
“Rishabh is already out of the series,” Gambhir confirmed.
“But I want to say this clearly — the character and foundation of this team is built on what Rishabh Pant did. Batting with a broken foot — not many have done that. Any amount of praise is not enough. I can sit here and talk about this for hours. Future generations should talk about this.”
Match Summary and Official Word
The fourth Test ended in a draw, with India clawing back from a 311-run first-innings deficit. Stellar centuries from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar helped India save the match on the final day, forcing England to settle for a draw with just an hour left.
Later in the day, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued an official statement:
“The BCCI Medical Team will continue to monitor Rishabh Pant’s recovery. The Men’s Selection Committee has named Narayan Jagadeesan as replacement for the fifth Test starting July 31, 2025, at The Oval in London. We wish Rishabh a speedy recovery.”
