Jurel Keeps Wickets as Pant Injured

India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant did not play on the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo due to a shoulder injury. Dhruv Jurel stepped in to keep wickets instead.

Sri Lanka started their first innings from 8/2 after three overs. India had declared at 503/9, thanks to centuries by Devdutt Padikkal and Jurel.

Pant was absent because of a right shoulder injury. Jurel explained during the press conference that Pant’s condition required monitoring. “He got hurt on his right shoulder. Physio is monitoring him. Today, I kept wickets because he had pain. Hopefully, he’ll be fine tomorrow,” Jurel said.

Pant did not play on Tuesday either, indicating he might not have fully recovered. On the first day, he retired hurt with a wrist injury after scoring three runs. However, he returned on the second day and scored 63 runs, hitting six fours and two sixes. He and Jurel formed a strong partnership of 112 runs.

Jurel hit his second Test century after Pant was dismissed. Despite this, he remains focused on the competition. “It is never stress-free representing India. Butterflies are always there. Even though I scored a hundred today, tomorrow I will start from zero again,” Jurel added.

At the time of writing, Sri Lanka were 112/3 after 27 overs, with Pasindu Sooriyabandara (55) and Kamindu Mendis (28) batting. Prasidh Krishna took an early wicket but Mendis and Sooriyabandara have since built a strong partnership.

India aim to win the two-match Test series after clinching the first Test in Galle by 165 runs.