It could be an interesting three-horse race with the India Test keeper spot now suddenly up for grabs
Post Date – 11:00 PM, Saturday – 12/31/22
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New Delhi: The extent of Rishabh Pant’s torn ligaments is yet to be determined following a horrific car crash, but if BCCI sources are to be believed, he will miss the upcoming four-Test series against Australia.
Pant’s absence from cricket is likely to be long and it is too soon to zero in on the date, so one of the biggest challenges for the new selection committee will be to select two goalkeeper batsmen for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy .
The Indian Test wicket keeper’s spot is now up for grabs suddenly when the Test series starts in Nagpur from 9 February.
The 25-year-old lost control of his Mercedes while driving from Delhi to Roorkee on Friday morning and crashed it into a divider near Mohammadpur Jat in the Manglaur region. He was first taken to a local medical facility but is now being treated in Max Dehradun for multiple injuries.
While X-rays and CT scan reports ruled out any fractures, brain or spinal injuries, multiple torn ligaments in his knee and ankle are sure to keep him out for a long time. Depending on the extent of the ligament tear, it may take two to six months.
“He has had massive swelling so an MRI of the ankle and knee has not yet been done. Once he is fit enough to travel, he will come to Mumbai where he will be with board-appointed doctor Dinshaw Pardiwala. working under the direction of the BCCI,” a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.
The new selection committee will actually have three choices. The two Indian A’s, Bharat and Upendra, go straight into the main line-up, or a left-hander like Kishan could make the cut.
In the case of Sanju Samson and Kishan, neither of them retained the Ranji Trophy for Kerala and Jharkhand respectively.
Technically, Bharat could debut in Nagpur as the Test side’s second keeper, but Upendra was much better as a whole. He’s an excellent goaltender and a clean hitter, averaging over 45 runs.
However, as far as Pant is concerned, Bharat or Upendra have an X factor that they don’t have despite their great performance.
Ishan or Sanju are better options, they have dealt with the pressure of international cricket but now they both regret handing the big glove to Kumar Kushagra and Ponnan Rahul respectively.
