India vs New Zealand First Test: Debutant Dhruv Jurel Replaces Injured Rishabh Pant

In the first Test match between India and New Zealand, occurring in Bengaluru as part of a three-match series, Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was forced to leave the field after experiencing knee pain on the second day. Dhruv Jurel, who has been part of the Indian Test squad since earlier this year, was called to replace Pant behind the stumps.

The second day’s play saw New Zealand exerting dominance after a washed-out first day due to rain. New Zealand’s bowlers dismantled the Indian batting lineup, bowling them out for just 46 runs. Among the Indian batters, only Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal reached double figures, highlighting the severity of the batting collapse.

During the closing moments of the day’s play, an unfortunate incident occurred when the ball struck Pant’s knee during the 37th over. He received immediate medical attention on the field from the team’s physio but eventually opted to exit the field due to the discomfort. As a result, Dhruv Jurel, who was on the bench since Pant’s return to the Test squad, stepped in to assume wicket-keeping duties.

Jurel, who made his Test debut against England earlier this year, is considered a promising talent and remains a significant part of the Indian team’s plans. His involvement this time comes amid concerns over Pant’s fitness and availability for the remainder of the series. Indian team management is hopeful that Pant’s injury is not severe and he will be available for batting in the upcoming innings.

The New Zealand team took advantage of India’s batting struggles with solid performances, especially from their bowlers. Opener Devon Conway, who scored an impressive 91 runs before being caught out by Ravichandran Ashwin, further extended New Zealand’s lead beyond 100 runs.

This development in the Test series is significant, considering it marks one of India’s lowest Test scores historically. The situation underlines India’s challenges in facing New Zealand’s bowling attack and raises questions about potential lineup changes moving forward.