Rishabh Pant is fit to play IPL 2024, BCCI had given this information a day before. After this Pant has joined the pre-season camp of Delhi Capitals. Pant is "nervous" like a debutant all over again.

Also Read: Most Test hundreds for India since 2021

Pant has been away from the cricket field since he was seriously injured in a road accident in December 2022. Now after 14 months, after completely recovering from the injury, he is going to return to the field through IPL 2024.

Pant has joined the Delhi Capitals team in Vizag and has also started preparations for IPL 2024. "I am excited and nervous at the same time. It feels like I am going to make my debut again," Pant said after being declared fit by the BCCI.

'Playing cricket again after everything is a miracle'

An emotional Pant further said, "To be able to play cricket again after everything I've been through is nothing short of a miracle." He thanked the fans and the staff of BCCI, National Cricket Academy who assisted him during his recovery. "I'm grateful to all my well-wishers and fans, and most importantly, the BCCI and staff at NCA. All their love and support continues to give me immense strength," 

Pant excited to return to IPL 2024

"I am excited to return to Delhi Capitals and the IPL, a tournament I enjoy so much. Our team owners and support staff have been by my side throughout with their full support, guidance and co-operation at every step, for which I am deeply grateful." On joining the Delhi Capitals pre-season camp, Pant said.

"I can't wait to re-unite with my DC family and play in front of the fans again." Pant will be expected to bat as well as keep wickets with the BCCI declaring him fit as a wicketkeeper-batter.

Also Read: IPL 2024: "Rishabh is very confident that he's going to be right to play," - Ricky Ponting

DC will start IPL 2024 campaign against Punjab Kings

Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2024 campaign against Punjab Kings on March 23 in Mohali. All eyes will be on the left-handed batter as he is set to lead the Delhi Capitals franchise this season. The DC skipper will look to get back to his best form with the bat as soon as possible and hope to make an impact once again to seal a spot for the T20 World Cup 2024.

Rashid Khan is the world's most successful bowler in T20 cricket. At the age of just 26, he has surpassed all the great players. However, Rashid's performance has seen a decline in the recent times.

He had a back surgery after the 2023 World Cup. Rashid has not been the same as before since his return. He took 17 or more wickets in every season of IPL between 2017 and 2023. But in the 2024 and 2025 seasons combined, he got 19 wickets. His economy and average were also the worst in these two seasons. Rashid is currently playing in The Hundred and here he bowled the most expensive spell of his career.

Also Read: Rashid Khan in IPL since 2024: Has he lost his Midas touch?

Rashid conceded 59 runs

Leg spinner Rashid Khan is a part of Oval Invincibles. In the match against Birmingham Phoenix, he conceded 59 runs in just 20 balls. This is his most expensive spell in T20 cricket.

Along with this, no bowler has ever conceded so many runs in a single spell in The Hundred. Earlier, in IPL 2025, he gave 54 runs in 4 overs in the match against RCB. In 2023, he also conceded 54 runs in the match against KKR.

28 runs in last 5 balls

Rashid Khan conceded 28 runs on his last 5 balls. Explosive batsman Liam Livingstone hit 4 consecutive sixes after hitting a four on the first ball. Joe Clarke hit two sixes while Will Smeed hit a six.

In the match, Oval batted first and scored 180 runs for 8 wickets. Donovan Ferreira scored 63 runs in 29 balls. Birmingham won the match with two balls to spare. Livingstone scored an unbeaten 69 runs in 27 balls. Will Smeed also played an innings of 51 runs in 29 balls.

This is not the first time Liam Livingstone has thrashed Rashid Khan. He hit 5 sixes against Rashid in a match while playing for RCB in IPL 2025. His strike rate against Rashid in T20 is 200. Livingstone has scored 196 runs in 98 balls. During this, 5 fours and 21 sixes have come from his bat. Rashid has also dismissed him four times.

Also Read: Records T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav can break in Asia Cup 2025

Most runs conceded by a bowler in The Hundred

• Rashid Khan - four overs - 59 runs - no wicket
• David Wiese - four overs - 53 runs - one wicket
• David Payne - four overs - 53 runs - one wicket
• Steven Finn - three overs - 51 runs - two wickets
• Chris Wood - four overs - 49 runs - no wicket

As per the latest ICC rankings, India's Abhishek Sharma clinched the No.1 ranking in the T20I batting ladder. Meantime, Shubman Gill continued to be ICC No. 1-ranked ODI batter. On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah strengthened his position at the top of the ICC Men's Test Bowling rankings.

Hardik Pandya continued to be No.1 all-rounder in T20Is while Ravindra Jadeja achieved his career-best 29th ranking in ICC Test Batting ladderboard. With his 150 in Manchester, Joe Root stabilised his position at the top of the ICC Men's Test Batting rankings.

Read Also: Most runs in a series in Tests

ICC Rankings: Test

ICC Rankings: ODI

ICC Rankings: T20I

Indian team's star wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant will be available to bat. However, he will not do wicketkeeping. Dhruv Jurel will take over wicketkeeping in his place. BCCI confirmed this news on Thursday through their X handle.

India vice-captain Rishabh Pant, on Thursday, joined the Indian camp at the Old Trafford ground on Day 2 of the ongoing ENG vs IND fourth Test, a day after he sustained a foot injury. 

Also Read: Can Jurel bat for Rishabh Pant? Former England captain wants 'like for like subs' option for first innings injuries

“Rishabh Pant, who sustained an injury to his right foot on Day 1 of the Manchester Test, will not be performing wicket-keeping duties for the remainder of the match. Dhruv Jurel will assume the role of wicket-keeper. Despite his injury, Rishabh Pant has joined the team on Day 2 and will be available to bat as per team requirements,” BCCI wrote.

𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: Rishabh Pant, who sustained an injury to his right foot on Day 1 of the Manchester Test, will not be performing wicket-keeping duties for the remainder of the match. Dhruv Jurel will assume the role of wicket-keeper.

Despite his injury, Rishabh Pant has joined the…

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 24, 2025

However, the board has not said whether he is out of the series or not. Earlier, news agency PTI had informed that Pant is out of the remaining series. 

Pant looked in a lot of pain

Pant was batting on 37 runs in the first innings when the ball hit his foot while attempting a reverse sweep. In the 68th over of the Indian innings, a ball from Chris Woakes hit his right leg. After this, he lay down on the ground and looked in a lot of pain.

Even when the physio arrived, he was seen groaning in pain. Then an attempt was made to lift him up and take him away, but he could not walk. Then he was taken to the ambulance. Blood was seen oozing from Pant's right leg, and there was a lot of swelling in that part of the body.

Post stumps, Pant was taken for scans, which confirmed a toe fracture.

“Yes, Rishabh Pant is ruled out of the series. He went for scans last night, and the reports have revealed a toe fracture. There is just no chance of him batting as he is in a lot of pain right now.” Source said.

Jurel to keep the wickets

The board may also ask KL Rahul to keep wickets, but he has not performed this responsibility since the South Africa tour in the 2023-24 season. The team's other wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel was not included in the playing XI for the fourth Test match.

Also Read: ENG vs IND 4th Test: 14 times in a row, Team India loses toss again, the odds of that are apparently 16,384-1

This is the second time Pant has suffered an injury in the series. He injured his finger while wicketkeeping during the third Test at Lord's due to which he was unable to keep wickets in England's second innings. Dhruv Jurel had kept wicket as a replacement then. He will be seen keeping wicket in place of Pant in the ENG vs IND 4th test as well.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has raised his voice appealing for a 'like-for-like sub' option in test cricket, even if the injury is not a head injury. Vaughan took to social media, X and voted for the change in rules in test cricket. 

During the first day of the England vs India, 4th test in Manchester, Rishabh Pant got injured while attempting a reverse sweep against pacer Chris Woakes. Woakes' ball hit Pant's right foot on the full toss, and Pant had to retire hurt in severe pain.

The concerning photos showed that there was a big cut on Pant's feet and it was bleeding heavily. The Indian wicket-keeper batter was taken away on a buggy and quickly sent for a scan. On Thursday, the reports suggested that Pant would be ruled out of the whole test match due to a fractured toe and would need at least six weeks of rest to recover. Ishan Kishan, who has been playing county cricket for Nottinghamshire, will be added to the Indian squad for the fifth test.

🚨REPORTS 🚨

Rishabh Pant has fractured his toe and has been advised to take six weeks of rest. It is unlikely that he would come to bat again in the fourth test in Manchester. #RishabhPant #ENGvIND #Cricket #CricketNews pic.twitter.com/1aPkqQlixb

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) July 24, 2025

Can Jurel bat for Rishabh Pant in the second inning?

Now the question is that can anyone bat in place of Rishabh Pant in the second inning of the fourth test? Unfortunately, NO. 

As per the current rule, a like-for-like substitution is only allowed in the case of head injuries. If a player gets hit on the head, teams are allowed to name a like-for-like substitute nomination, and if the match referee agrees, that player is substituted. 

The first player to be used as a concussion substitute in Test cricket was Marnus Labuschagne. He replaced Steve Smith during the 2019 Ashes series after Smith was struck on the neck by a bouncer from Jofra Archer.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan now wants a change to that rule. Even apart from the head injuries, Vaughan wants the like-for-like substitute option available if anyone gets injured during the first inning of a test match. 

"Clear and obvious injuries in the first innings of Tests, we should allow like for like Subs .. we have concussion subs so surely we can have subs for injuries like Rishabhs," Vaughn Tweeted. 

Clear and obvious injuries in the first innings of Tests we should allow like for like Subs .. we have concussion subs so surely we can have subs for injuries like Rishabhs .. https://t.co/MComKbHbyn

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 24, 2025

Why can this be beneficial for teams? So, if a pace bowler gets injured while bowling the first over of the test match, the team would be without a bowler for the whole test match, and the same goes for a batter as well, which is now the case with India and Rishabh Pant.

The change in the rule will allow someone with the same skill as the injured player can replace him/her during the second inning of the test match. This will bring parity to the teams, and fans can also enjoy a better test match. Now, as per the current rule, even though Dhruv Jurel can play as a substitute wicket-keeper, he will not be able to bat in the place of Rishabh Pant. 

Indian cricket team management suffered major setbacks ahead of the ENG vs IND, 4th test in Manchester, starting from Wednesday. Two Indian pacers, Akash Deep and Ashdeep Singh, have been ruled out of the 4th test along with all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.

With three players already ruled out due to injuries, Shubman Gill and company will have to find solutions within the squad to name a strong playing XI at Old Trafford. 

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who was hit on his bowling hand, needed stitches. As per the reports of the Indian Express on Sunday, the Medium Pacer will need at least 10 days to recover. This has already ruled him out of the fourth test, and he is unlikely to return for the final test starting on 31st July.

As per the same report by The Indian Express, another pacer, Akash Deep, who was India's hero in their first-ever Test win in Birmingham, has issues with his groin and back. The Indian team management does not want to take risks with his injuries, and thus, he will be monitored as a precaution.

On the other hand, Hindustan Times reported that all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy suffered an injury during the gym session on Sunday. So he is also ruled out of the fourth test at Old Trafford Stadium. 

In the situation where India are trailing by 1-2 in the Test series and needs to win the 4th test, to be in contention to win the series, Gautam Gambhir and company will have to dig deep to find solutions.

Here are the solutions India can go for during the 4th test. 

#1 Bumrah, Siraj, Shardul, and who?

With both Akashdeep and Arshdeep Singh being ruled out, there is certainty that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj will be India's leading pacers in the fourth test. Although our questions on the workload management of both those pacers, they will have to be at their best if India wants to bring balance to the series. 

Now, with Nitish Kumar Reddy's injury, India will have to go back to Shardul Thakur, who played in the first test in Leeds. The Mumbai all-rounder only scored 4 runs and took two wickets in that match. 

But if India wants to go for another pacer, they will have the option of Prasidh Krishna and newcomer Anshul Kamboj. Krishna, who did not do very well in the first two test matches, might not be brought back. In that case, Kamboj, who has done well in the first-class games he has played so far, is likely to get his test cap.

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#2 Should Kuldeep Yadav play?

Now, this has been an inclusion that Indian fans have been waiting for from the first test. Kuldeep, who last featured in test matches for India in 2024 against New Zealand at home, can bring the ex-factor in the bowling lineup. But this will leave the batting lineup a bit thin. 

Since Gautam Gambhir has always looked to go for that added batting cushion, it will be hard for Kuldeep to find his place. Even if he plays, will India look to sacrifice Washington Sundar? This would be a very hard question to answer.

#3 Jurel to keep, Pant to play as a specialist batter

Along with these three injuries, we had already reported that Rishabh Pant has not recovered fully from the finger injury he suffered during the Lord's Test. In that case, Dhruv Jurel, who kept wicket at Lord's, is likely to play as a wicket keeper while Rishabh Pant could play as only a specialist batter.

If Jurel comes in, India can leave Shardul out and bring Kuldeep Yadav into the playing XI. However, it will only depend on the pitch condition.

ENG vs IND, 4th test: India's possible lineup

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj