479 Runs in 7 Innings – India Lose Their In-form Star in India vs England 5th Test

Team India has suffered a major blow ahead of the fifth and final Test against England, as vice-captain Rishabh Pant has been officially ruled out for the India vs England 5th test with a broken toe, which he sustained during the fourth Test at Manchester’s Old Trafford.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) broke the news on Sunday, July 27, 2025 stating, Pant will not play in the final match of the England tour starting July 31 at The Oval, London.

How Rishabh Pant Got Injured

Pant got hurt trying a reverse sweep against Chris Woakes in the fourth Test. The ball smacked his toe pretty hard, and even though he kept batting and managed to score a tough half-century, scans later showed he had a fracture in his right foot.

Even with the injury, Pant didn’t want to quit. He couldn’t keep wickets, but he was willing to bat in the second innings if he had to. Luckily for India, they didn’t need him to bat again in that match.

Also Read: India vs Pakistan Clash Incoming: Asia Cup 2025 Dates & Venue Revealed!

BCCI Confirms Pant’s Injury – Official Statement

In a formal 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. The BCCI Medical Team will continue to monitor his progress and the team wishes him a speedy recovery.”

Pant’s fighting spirit earned him admiration, but the medical team decided not to risk further damage with a quick return.

With Pant out of the team, the Men’s Selection Committee quickly named Narayan Jagadeesan to him. Jagadeesan is a wicketkeeper-batter for Tamil Nadu who was in good form domestically along with his performances for India A.

“The Men’s Selection Committee has named Narayan Jagadeesan as a replacement for Rishabh Pant for the 5th Test starting on July 31st, 2025 at Kennington Oval London,” BCCI confirmed.

Jagadeesan’s potential debut in Test cricket could be an immense opportunity for the 28-year-old to establish himself on the international circuit.

Pant’s form was vital for India

His absence will be strongly felt. The dynamic left-hander was India’s best batsman in this series, scoring 479 runs in just seven innings, including two centuries and three fifties.

His aggressive style and fearless approach helped put pressure on England’s bowlers. With the series still open, Pant’s absence leaves a big gap in the middle order and also in leadership, since he serves as vice-captain.

India’s Squad for the India vs England 5th Test

Here is the updated India squad for the Oval India vs England 5th Test starting July 31:

Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj, Arshdeep Singh, N Jagadeesan (WK).

With Jagadeesan and Jurel now being the available wicketkeeping options, it remains to be seen who takes the gloves in the final match.

Things just got harder for India. With Pant out, the team’s going to miss his energy and bold batting. Now, it’s up to the new guys and younger players to really show what they can do. Jaiswal, Gill, and Sudharsan need to take charge, and if Jagadeesan gets a chance to play, he’ll need to make it count.

With the series still up for grabs, fans should get ready for a thrilling, important game at The Oval. And of course, everyone’s hoping Rishabh Pant gets well soon.