India cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that Rishabh Pant will return to keeping wickets in the IND vs NZ 2nd Test in Pune. Pant was forced hand over the gloves to Dhruv Jurel in Bengaluru after he developed a swelling in knee on being hit by the ball. Gambhir stated that Pant was “absolutely fine”, adding that he would keep wickets for the Indian side in Pune.
Rishabh Pant to keep wickets in IND vs NZ 2nd Test
In a pre-match press conference a day before the game, Gambhir confirmed that Pant would resume his role behind the stumps. In Bengaluru, the team decided to keep the keeper-batter away from the gloves. wanting to take no risk at all as he was hit on the same knee that he underwent a surgery on.
“He’s absolutely fine, he’ll keep wickets tomorrow,” Gambhir said.
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Long rope for KL Rahul
Gautam Gambhir also reiterated the assistant coach’s remarks on KL Rahul and said that the management has decided to back the star despite his poor show in Bengaluru. Speculations of the Karnataka batter being dropped after scoring 0 & 12 in the IND vs NZ 1st Test were rife. However, Gambhir has clarified that the team was willing to give a long rope for the batter.
“Social media doesn’t decide playing XI. It is not important what social media or experts think, it is important what team management thinks. He had a decent knock in a tough Kanpur pitch. Yes, he would want to score big runs. And this team management is looking to back him,” Gambhir said.
No decision on playing XI for IND vs NZ 2nd Test yet
Gambhir revealed that the decision on the playing XI for the game in Pune is yet to be taken. The India head coach informed that while Shubman Gill has recovered from his injury that kept him out of the 1st Test, Washington Sundar has been added to the squad consciously, keeping in mind the left-handers in New Zealand. However, he maintained that the playing XI will be decided on the day of the game.
“We have not decided the playing XI. We will decide tomorrow and whatever team we decide, they’ll go out to win,” Gambhir added.
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