Gautam Gambhir Confirms Rishabh Pant Will Keep Wickets In 2nd Test Vs New Zealand

Pant to play the second Test match [Source: @ImTanujSingh/X.Com]

Team India head coach, Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that Rishabh Pant will keep wickets in the 2nd Test match Vs New Zealand, which begins from October 24, Thursday. Pant suffered a from a minor knee injury during the first Test, and didn't keep wickets in New Zealand's second innings.

In his place, Dhruv Jurel did the keeping work as the team management protected Pant ahead of the important Test matches against New Zealand and Australia. The Indian keeper was involved in a horrific car accident in December 2022, and broke his knee ligaments and underwent an extensive rehabilitation programme.

While keeping in the first innings, Pant hurt his knee and was taken off the field as a precautionary measure. There were doubts related to his participation in the Pune Test, but coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that the star keeper will play in the second Test against the Kiwis.

"He's absolutely fine, he'll keep wickets tomorrow," Gambhir said at the pre-game press conference, as quoted by RevSportz.

India need Pant's brilliance to level the series

Despite getting injured, Pant came out to bat in India's second innings and scored a gritty 99, as he missed out on a deserving ton. His importance with the bat cannot be denied as Pant is arguably India's most important Test batter at the moment.

There are reports that the Pune pitch will assist the spinners as India try to level the 3-match Test series. On a spinning track, Pant's aggressive batting style will be useful to counter the Kiwi spin threat, and hence, Pant's fitness boost is massive for the India Test team.

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