IND vs ENG: Why Dhruv Jurel Can’t Bat If Rishabh Pant Misses Out Due to Injury – ICC Rule Explained
Rishabh Pant’s finger injury sparks a crisis at Lord’s; Dhruv Jurel can't bat as per ICC rules unless it's a concussion case.
Team India suffered a major scare on Day 1 of the third Test at Lord’s when vice-captain Rishabh Pant left the field after injuring his finger.
The incident occurred during the second session when Pant tried to stop a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah that was sliding down the leg side. The ball struck Pant’s left index finger, and he was seen in visible discomfort.
After receiving on-field treatment, Pant walked off with the physio, and young Dhruv Jurel stepped in to keep wickets for the remainder of the session.
BCCI Confirms Injury But No Update on Batting Return
Soon after, the BCCI issued an update confirming that Pant had been hit on his left index finger and was under medical supervision. However, they did not mention if he would be able to bat later in the match.
Pant’s fingers were heavily taped as he left the field, and the visuals raised concerns among fans about whether he would return to take strike.
Why Jurel Cannot Bat if Pant Misses Out
Here’s where things get tricky. According to the ICC’s Test playing conditions, a substitute is not allowed to bat unless he is replacing a player under specific exceptions like a concussion.
The rule states:
“A substitute shall not bowl or act as captain but may act as wicketkeeper only with the consent of the umpires. Only a nominated player may bat and may do so even though a substitute fielder has previously acted for him.”
In short, if Pant is unable to bat, India cannot send Jurel or any other player in his place. India would then have to respond to England’s total with just 10 batters.
No Full Replacements Until October
Last month, the ICC announced a trial phase for full-injury replacements in domestic first-class matches.
Under that rule, teams could field a like-for-like replacement for any serious injury. However, that trial period only begins in October 2025 and doesn’t apply to this Test match.
At present, only concussion replacements are allowed as full participants in international Tests.
India Left Hoping for Recovery
Jurel, who replaced Pant on the field, can continue to keep wickets for the rest of the match with umpire approval. But he cannot bat unless it is as a concussion substitute, which this is not.
With Pant’s return still uncertain, India will be hoping the injury is not serious. His absence would be a big blow, especially with the bat, given his form in the ongoing series.
