New Delhi: As India prepares for the high-stakes fifth and final Test against England at The Oval they have suffered a big setback as Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the match. The wicketkeeper batter sustained a fracture to his right foot during the Manchester Test Day 1 when he was trying a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes and took a blow on his foot.

He then retired hurt on 37 but showed grit by returning to the crease later and going on to score a counter-attacking half-century. However, scans later confirmed the fracture forcing team management to pull him out of the next match.

Jagadeesan called up as replacement

To fill the void, Tamil Nadu’s Narayan Jagadeesan has been added to the Indian squad. The 28 year old has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, scoring 3373 runs in 52 first class matches. His tally includes 10 centuries and 14 fifties at an average if 47.50. He will serve as the backup wicketkeeper along with Dhruv Jurel.

The BCCI confirmed the development through an official press release. “The Men’s Selection Committee has named Narayan Jagadeesan as replacement for Rishabh Pant for the fifth Test, which begins on July 31 at The Oval,” the statement read.

Pant’s absence a big blow

Pant’s absence will be a major blow to India’s chances. The 27-year-old has been one of the standout performers in the series, having scored 479 runs at an average of 68.42 including two centuries and three fifties. His aggressive style and ability to shift momentum had often put England on the back foot. India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir also praised Pant. He said, “To bat with a broken foot- generations should talk about it. No praise is enough.”

With the series delicately poised, the final Test at The Oval is expected to be a thrilling finish. After a 1-1 tie at Edgbaston, England edged ahead with a close win at Lord’s. India managed to draw the fourth Test at Old Trafford, keeping the series alive.

The Asian side will now have to regroup and find a way to challenge England without one of their key match-winners. All eyes will be on Jagadeesan and how he seizes this golden opportunity.

India’s updated squad for the fifth Test: Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj, Arshdeep Singh, N Jagadeesan (WK)