ENG vs IND Fifth Test: Rishabh Pant Ruled Out Due to Foot Injury, N. Jagadeesan Named as Replacement

India's star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been officially ruled out of the upcoming fifth and final Test against England after suffering a fracture to his right foot. The injury occurred during the fourth Test match in Manchester, dealing a major blow to India's preparations for the series finale.

Pant was batting on 37 when he sustained the injury while attempting a reverse sweep against England pacer Chris Woakes. The shot went awry, and the ball struck Pant on the foot, forcing him to retire hurt. He was immediately sent for scans, which later revealed a fracture.

Despite the pain, the 27-year-old showed tremendous grit and determination by returning to bat later in the innings after the dismissal of Shardul Thakur. He not only continued his innings but also went on to complete a well-crafted half-century, displaying characteristic flair and resilience.

On Sunday, July 27, 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued an official statement confirming that Pant would not be available for the final Test. The match is scheduled to begin on July 31, 2025, at the Kennington Oval in London.

In the press release, the BCCI stated: "Rishabh Pant, who sustained a fracture to his right foot during the fourth Test against England in Manchester, has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test of the series."

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia added that the medical team would continue to monitor Pant’s progress over the coming weeks. "The BCCI Medical Team will continue to monitor his progress, and the team wishes him a speedy recovery," Saikia noted.

In response to Pant's injury, the Men’s Selection Committee has named Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batter Narayan Jagadeesan as his replacement. Jagadeesan, who has been a consistent performer on the domestic circuit, now gets a golden opportunity to be part of the Test squad and possibly make his presence felt on the international stage.

Jagadeesan will join Dhruv Jurel as one of the two wicketkeeping options in the squad for the final Test. His inclusion adds depth to the batting lineup and offers the team flexibility in the middle order.

HERE IS THE UPDATED INDIA SQUAD FOR THE FIFTH TEST AGAINST ENGLAND:

Shubman Gill (Captain)

Yashasvi Jaiswal

KL Rahul

Sai Sudharsan

Abhimanyu Easwaran

Karun Nair

Ravindra Jadeja

Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper)

Washington Sundar

Shardul Thakur

Jasprit Bumrah

Mohammed Siraj

Prasidh Krishna

Akash Deep

Kuldeep Yadav

Anshul Kamboj

Arshdeep Singh

Narayan Jagadeesan (Wicketkeeper)

With the series finely poised, India will be hoping that the remaining players step up in Pant’s absence as they aim to finish the series on a high at the Oval.