Colombo: India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was forced to retire hurt after taking a painful blow to his left wrist from a sharp bouncer by Sri Lanka fast bowler Lahiru Kumara on day one of the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground here on Sunday.
The incident occurred during the final session when Kumara was brought back into the attack for the first ball of the 58th over.
Operating from round the wicket, Kumara bowled a short delivery that angled into Pant's body. Pant attempted to move across to the off side and pull the ball behind square but was through his shot early and was struck on his left wrist.
The ball dribbled down the leg side towards wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, while Pant immediately went down in severe discomfort after taking the blow on the wrist bone, just below his left forearm.
Play was halted for a considerable period as Indian team physio Kamlesh Jain rushed onto the field with an ice pack to prevent swelling.
After an extended assessment and treatment, Pant's wrist was briefly taped before the tape was swiftly removed. However, following a discussion with the match umpires and with the pain not subsiding, Pant was forced to walk off after scoring three runs off 15 balls.
Senior left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja came out to bat at No. 6 in Pant's place and joined half-centurion Devdutt Padikkal at the crease.
The extent of Pant's injury and whether he will return to bat remain officially unconfirmed by the Indian team management.
After leaving the field, Pant sat in the dugout and received further attention from team doctor Charles Minz, while Dhruv Jurel was also seen looking towards Pant's injured left wrist.
Last year, Pant was forced to retire hurt after suffering a right-foot fracture from a delivery by Chris Woakes during the Manchester Test. He later returned to the crease and scored a valiant fifty.
With IANS inputs