After suffering a left knee injury during the first Test match against New Zealand last week at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Indian supporters can now rest easy knowing that talismanic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is fully recovered. The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune will host the second Test between the two teams beginning on Thursday, October 24.
India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir stated at the pre-match news conference that Pant is totally healthy and will be wearing the wicketkeeping gloves during the crucial second Test, which is crucial as the hosts try to recover from the loss in Bengaluru.
Gambhir replied, “He’s absolutely fine, he’ll keep wickets tomorrow,” in reference to Rishabh Pant availability for the second Test.
Pant was hurt after he attempted to recover a delivery in the 37th over on Day 2 of the first Test. As India’s medical team evaluated the 27-year-old’s health shortly after, he appeared to be in terrible discomfort. For the remainder of the Test match, Dhruv Jurel took wickets, and he left the pitch unoccupied. In the second innings, though, Pant came out to bat and hammered a fierce 99. In the end, the hosts fell behind 0-1 in the three-match series after losing by eight wickets.
New Zealand hopes to make history.
In a Test series played in India, New Zealand can become the first team to defeat India since England. England, captained by Alastair Cook, won a Test series against India in 2012. The Asian powerhouses have since won 42 of their 54 home Test matches. Only seven Test matches have been lost since the England series.
Following their 1-2 loss to England, India had won all 18 of their Test series. This covers occasional matches versus Afghanistan and Bangladesh. New Zealand, meanwhile, has only triumphed in three Test matches in India.
Also Read: If you enjoyed Kanpur, have to accept 46-all out in Bengaluru: Gautam Gambhir
Tom Latham and company have the opportunity to make history by becoming the first team from New Zealand to defeat India in a Test series played in India.
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