ENG vs IND 2025: Why is Rishabh Pant not keeping wickets in Lord's Test?

During the second session of the opening day of the Lord’s Test, the visitors India got a blow as the Test vice-captain and wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant left the field due to a painful finger injury.

The five-match Test series between the hosts England and the visitors India, Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, is currently standing in a great situation at 1-1 with three to go. Lord’s in London is hosting the third Test of the series, which started on Thursday (July 10).

After a great battle in the first session of the opening day of the Lord’s Test, where England won the toss and scored 83/2 before the lunch break, the second session also started interestingly, as the visiting pacers controlled the Bazball cricket by hardly conceding easy runs. 

See Also: ENG vs IND 2025: Will Rishabh Pant bat against England in ongoing Lord's Test?

Rishabh Pant injured in the Lord's Test

During the 34th over of the first innings, Pant needed a physio assistant due to discomfort in pain. The first ball of the over ended in a half-stop by the wicket-keeper as the ball hit his index fingertip. Apart from some magic spray, Pant required water and medicine to continue his keeping. However, at the end of that over, Pant left the field and Dhurv Jurel replaced him as a substitute wicketkeeper. 

Dhruv Jurel takes the gloves as Rishabh Pant goes off for treatment on his hand 🔃 pic.twitter.com/LGDgi34IN7

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 10, 2025

Previously, the wicket-keepers couldn’t be substituted in a match. However, since 2017, the law has been changed, as the wicket-keepers can now be replaced just like the other substitute fielders rule, as the replacement can’t bat or bowl (excluding the concussion substitution).   

Dhurv Jurel gets good start in Test cricket

The 24-year-old Dhruv Jurel has played four Tests and four T20Is for India after making his international cricket debut in February 2024. In his four Tests, the right-handed batter scored 202 runs in six innings with an average of 40.40, including one half-century. The 2024 Ranchi Test against England was his second Test, where Jurel won the Player of the Match award for playing the crucial match-winning knocks of 90 and 39 not out.