Rishabh Pant is expected to bat in India's first innings after retiring hurt on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said, according to reports.
Pant was struck on the left wrist while attempting to pull a short ball from Lahiru Kumara during the third session on day one. The left-handed batter was trying to send the short-pitch delivery over deep backward square leg when the ball hit the wrist of his bottom hand.
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He received medical attention immediately on the field for several minutes before walking off. Pant was unbeaten on 3 off 15 balls at the time.
While the exact severity of the injury was not immediately known, Pant was seen in the dugout and later in the dressing room for the remainder of the day's play. He also padded up during the closing stages of day one, although he was not required to bat again.
Speaking after the day's play, Kotak said Pant "should be fine" to continue and expressed hope that he would be among the batters who could help India make further progress on day two.
India have two alternative wicketkeeping options in their playing XI should Pant experience significant discomfort. Dhruv Jurel, who normally bats at No. 7, is the most likely candidate to take the gloves in Pant's absence.
KL Rahul is also capable of keeping wicket, but with the experienced batter opening the innings, India are unlikely to want to add wicketkeeping duties to his workload.
Pant's ability to continue will be closely watched when India resume their first innings, particularly after the wrist injury forced him to leave the field midway through his knock.
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India ended Day 1 at exactly 300 for 5, with Dhruv Jurel unbeaten on 7 off 21 balls and India's oldest Test debutant since 1998, Saransh Jain, not out on 4 off 5 balls.
The hero of the day, however, was India's No. 3 batter Devdutt Padikkal, who scored a brilliant 117 off 193 balls. Padikkal had also scored a century in the first Test and was named Player of the Match.
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