With Rishabh Pant officially ruled out of the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval due to a fractured toe, and Ishan Kishan also sidelined with an ankle injury, the Indian selectors have turned to Tamil Nadu’s N Jagadeesan for reinforcement behind the stumps. The 29-year-old wicketkeeper-batter received his maiden India Test call-up on Thursday afternoon and is currently awaiting visa clearance to travel to England at the earliest.
Initially, Kishan was considered Pant’s natural replacement. He had been active in the County circuit and was in decent rhythm. However, the Jharkhand stumper informed the selection committee that he had sustained an ankle injury—requiring 10 stitches after falling from a scooter—and wouldn’t recover in time to attain full match fitness. That closed the door on him for the remainder of the tour.
WATCH – Rishabh Pant Braves Fractured Foot To Bat Through Limp In Manchester Test
Another possible option was KS Bharat, who has already featured in Tests, including during the ongoing home series earlier this year. However, sources suggest the selectors were reluctant to recall Bharat after he failed to capitalise on his opportunities. His performances, especially with the bat, were underwhelming, leading the selectors to look beyond him.
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Tamil Nadu’s N Jagadeesan likely to replace Rishabh Pant in India squad
✍️ @vijaymirror #ENGvIND #RishabhPant https://t.co/tNbmVwLwnF pic.twitter.com/BmjoUUaDzb
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) July 24, 2025
Jagadeesan, next in line in the domestic circuit, has been knocking on the door with consistent performances. A part of the India A setup in recent months, he boasts an impressive first-class record: 3373 runs in 52 matches at an average of 47.50, including 10 centuries and a career-best triple hundred. Though primarily an opener, his wicketkeeping skills have steadily evolved, making him a dual-threat option.
His inclusion comes after steady monitoring by the selection panel, with chairman Ajit Agarkar even flying to Chennai last season to watch him in a Ranji fixture.
ALSO READ: Ishan Kishan Ruled Out Due to Injury; India’s Wicketkeeping Crisis Deepens After Rishabh Pant’s Toe Fracture
Meanwhile, in Manchester, BCCI confirmed that Dhruv Jurel would continue wicketkeeping duties for the remainder of the fourth Test. Pant, despite his foot injury, came out to bat on Day 2, receiving a heartfelt ovation at Old Trafford. Earlier in the series, Pant had also suffered a hand injury at Lord’s, and Jurel had kept wickets then as well.
With Pant ruled out and Kishan unavailable, Jurel is now expected to don the gloves for the final Test at The Oval, while Jagadeesan will provide crucial backup.
