Overview

• Multiple outlets, including ESPNcricinfo and The Indian Express, report Pant will sit out the two home Tests starting October 2 in Ahmedabad before the second match in New Delhi.
• Dhruv Jurel is expected to take the wicketkeeping role in Pant’s absence, with N Jagadeesan considered the likely backup after recent India A performances.
• BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the Test squad will be picked in an online meeting on September 23 or 24.
• Reports from Dainik Jagran suggest Pant could need three to four more weeks of recovery, putting a possible return in the frame for the South Africa Tests in November and casting doubt on his participation in the Australia white-ball tour.
• Selectors are weighing middle-order options, with Shreyas Iyer widely tipped for a recall and names such as Devdutt Padikkal and Nitish Kumar Reddy under consideration, while Karun Nair’s place is uncertain.