In a significant development for the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, Narayan Jagadeesan, the accomplished right-handed wicketkeeper-batter from Tamil Nadu, is reportedly set to join the Indian squad as a replacement for the injured Rishabh Pant. An official announcement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected shortly.
Rishabh Pant sustained a fracture in his right toe on Day 1 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester while batting, effectively ruling him out of the remainder of the series. While Pant bravely returned to bat on Day 2, he will not be performing wicket-keeping duties, with Dhruv Jurel taking over the gloves for the ongoing match. Initial scans revealed a compound fracture that is expected to keep Pant out of action for six to eight weeks.
The BCCI, national selectors, and the touring team management have been actively seeking a suitable replacement for Pant. After considering various options, including Ishan Kishan, who is currently unavailable due to an ankle injury, their focus has landed on the 29-year-old Jagadeesan. He is anticipated to link up with the squad ahead of the fifth and final Test of the series, scheduled to begin on July 31st at the Kennington Oval in London.
Jagadeesan's selection is a testament to his consistent and stellar performances in domestic red-ball cricket. In a first-class career spanning 52 matches, he has amassed 3373 runs at an impressive average of 47.50, including 10 centuries and 14 half-centuries.
His most recent Ranji Trophy season saw him as Tamil Nadu's leading run-scorer, tallying 674 runs in eight matches at an average of 56.16, with two hundreds and five fifties. Among wicketkeepers in that competition, only Vidarbha's Akshay Wadkar surpassed his aggregate.
While the ideal scenario for selectors would have been to pick a player from the India A tour that preceded the senior series, limited options due to Kishan's injury and Dhruv Jurel already being part of the main squad necessitated a broader search. Although KS Bharat, another wicketkeeper-batter currently playing club cricket in England with prior Test experience in English conditions, was an option, the selectors ultimately opted to back Jagadeesan's formidable domestic record.
With Dhruv Jurel currently keeping wickets in the Old Trafford Test and the experienced KL Rahul also available as a potential wicket-keeping option if needed, Jagadeesan's inclusion adds depth and a fresh batting perspective to the Indian squad as they look to conclude the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
