Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was hit on his left elbow during India’s first innings on Saturday morning and was consequently taken to the hospital for further scans. He adds to India’s long injury list on the Australian tour.
It was in the 85th over of Indian batting when Australia vice-captain Pat Cummins’ shorter length delivery missed Pant’s swing to strike his elbow. The injury had looked severe as the young southpaw took a long break to recover from it temporarily.
Ouch! Pant cops one on the elbow #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/26SAgfh6mV
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 9, 2021
The third day at the SCG saw the ball bouncing lesser than expected and Pant fell prey to the conditions as he missed the ball completely. There was visible discomfort on his face even though he returned to bat with a strapped arm after minutes.
However, he could not last long as he edged Josh Hazlewood’s delivery behind for David Warner to take an easy catch. The 23-year-old left the pitch after making 36 runs and ending a well-made 53-run partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara.
India’s back-up wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha was seen warming up before Australia’s second innings and he consequently started in place of Pant. Saha was dropped from the first team after the first Test match in Adelaide when India had suffered a humiliating loss.
Ravindra Jadeja injures thumb
Apart from Pant, the Indian cricket team also saw their first-innings hero Ravindra Jadeja getting hit on his left thumb while he was batting. It was a rising delivery by Mitchell Starc in the closing stages of the Indian innings that the ace all-rounder failed to deal with.
While the southpaw carried on with the injury and was unbeaten on 28 off 37 balls, BCCI later revealed that that Jadeja was taken for scans as well. Mayank Agarwal was seen taking place on the field in the second innings.
India were all out for 244 as they trail Australia by 94 runs at the end of their first innings.
UPDATE - Ravindra Jadeja suffered a blow to his left thumb while batting. He has been taken for scans.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/DOG8SBXPue
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 9, 2021
Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ David Gray