Left index-finger injury keeps Rishabh Pant out on Day 2 at Lord's

Rishabh Pant did not take the field at the start of the second day's play at Lord's, with discomfort from an injured left index finger keeping him off the park. Dhruv Jurel continued to substitute for him.

Pant arrived at the ground on the second morning and went through some drills with assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak but looked in visible discomfort. He then shadow-practised defensive strokes using only his bottom hand (right) before heading back to the pavilion.

The injury had occurred on the opening day when Pant hurt himself diving to stop the first ball of the 34th over from Jasprit Bumrah, which had strayed down the leg side. Struck at the tip of his index finger, Pant grimaced immediately and was treated by the physio. After pain-relief sprays failed to help, he asked to be substituted and walked off at the end of the over. He initially received treatment near the boundary rope before heading up to the dressing room.

A BCCI media release on Thursday said Pant remained under medical supervision but had not been taken for scans at the time of writing, suggesting a fracture was unlikely.

India will still hope their vice-captain is available to bat. Since this was an external injury sustained on the field, he will be allowed to bat at his usual No.5 position if he is fit enough to do so. He has been a key figure in that role this series, with two hundreds and a fifty in four innings so far.