The Indian team has departed for Rajkot for the second ODI, though Rishabh Pant is not among them. To properly assess the damage from an injury suffered in the opening game against Australia, the wicket-keeper had to travel back to Bengaluru for specialized tests.
Pant put up 28 runs from 33 balls in the first ODI, but he was forced off the field after taking a heavy blow to the helmet from an Australian bouncer. Due to the concussion, he was unable to keep wickets, which opened the door for KL Rahul to take his place. This situation puts Pant among the first players to undergo the revised ICC medical recovery guidelines.
Following a diagnosis by hospital specialists, the concussion was officially confirmed. Pant's return for the third ODI now depends on approval from the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Should he be cleared, he will be available for the game at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on January 19th. He is currently under a mandatory 72-hour observation and training period. The second ODI will proceed as planned on January 17th at the Saurashtra Cricket Stadium in Rajkot.
Pant's rise in cricket began when he was chosen for the 2016 U19 World Cup squad. He made his T20 international debut in 2017, followed by his first appearances in Test and ODI cricket in 2018. His rapid progress was recognized when he was named the 2018 Emerging Player of the Year.