Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill are expected to be fit for India’s second Test against New Zealand, according to assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. Both players faced challenges during the series opener in Bengaluru, but the team is optimistic about their availability.
Pant sustained a knee injury while attempting to stump Devon Conway on the second day of the Test, leading to his early departure from the field. Dhruv Jurel stepped in as the wicketkeeper, finishing the first innings and the majority of New Zealand’s second innings in Pant’s absence.
“Rishabh is doing pretty well,” ten Doeschate stated. “Rohit mentioned the discomfort he felt with his knee during movement, but we’re hopeful he can keep wickets in this Test.”
As for Shubman Gill, ten Doeschate shared, “He practiced batting in Bangalore last week and has shown progress. Although he still feels some discomfort, we believe he’ll be ready for the test.”
The coaching staff is cautious about Pant’s knee, particularly given his history of serious injuries from a car accident in December 2022. While he managed to bat in India’s second innings in Bengaluru, scoring 99 runs off 105 balls, he exhibited signs of pain while running. Following the team’s loss in that Test, captain Rohit Sharma emphasized a careful approach regarding Pant’s fitness.
During India’s initial practice in Pune, Jurel began the wicketkeeping drills while Pant observed from the sidelines. Pant later participated fully in batting practice against spinners and net bowlers, even taking up wicketkeeping duties towards the end of the session.
Ten Doeschate also reassured that R. Ashwin, who bowled just two overs during New Zealand’s second innings, is not injured. Despite conceding 94 runs in his 16 overs during the first innings, the team remains confident in Ashwin’s abilities. “Ashwin is perfectly fine,” ten Doeschate affirmed. “He bowled well, and his pace and rhythm are back on track.”
As Pune prepares to unveil a low-bounce black-soil pitch conducive to spin bowling, India has strengthened its spin department by adding allrounder Washington Sundar to the squad. This move aims to bolster the spin options alongside Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. Ten Doeschate clarified that Washington’s inclusion isn’t a reaction to the loss in Bengaluru but rather a strategic decision to counter New Zealand’s left-handed batters.
“Desperate measures? Not at all,” he responded to speculation. “With Axar in the mix and four left-handers in their lineup, we want to ensure we can exploit the spin effectively.”
The number of left-handed batsmen could increase to five if New Zealand opts to recall Mitchell Santner to their spin attack. Although Washington has not played Test cricket for India since March 2021, his recent performances in the Ranji Trophy, including a century and six wickets in a match, showcase his readiness for a Test recall.
Also Read: David Warner: Former Australia Opener Willing to Return from Retirement for India Test Series
“We’ve had Washy around the white-ball setup for a while, and we appreciate his approach,” ten Doeschate noted. “It’s great to see players being rewarded for their Ranji Trophy performances, and we want to ensure we’re fully prepared for the conditions, especially in terms of how we handle left-handers.”
