Rishabh Pant has suffered a fractured bone in his right foot which will sideline him for a minimum of six weeks but he bravely returned to bat today (Thursday) despite the injury. The Indian wicketkeeper and explosive batsman had to be taken off the field on a medical buggy after retiring hurt during the first day of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford.
Pant experienced severe pain when a delivery from Chris Woakes struck his boot, with subsequent X-rays confirming the team’s fears. Television images revealed a significant swelling near his little toe once his footwear was removed. Despite showing up on the second day in a protective moon boot, Pant was deemed unfit to keep wickets but determined to bat if needed.
The Indian cricket board announced: “Rishabh Pant, who sustained an injury to his right foot on Day 1 of the Manchester Test, will not be performing wicketkeeping duties for the remainder of the match. Dhruv Jurel will assume the role of wicketkeeper.
“Despite his injury, Pant has joined the team on Day 2 and will be available to bat as per team requirements.”
Pant hobbled to the crease to cheers from the crowd after Shardul Thakur’s stand was ended at 314-6 when Ben Duckett caught him at gully.
Pant’s absence would have been a significant blow to India and the series’ spectacle, especially after his remarkable twin centuries at Headingley, albeit in a losing effort. His blistering 65 off just 58 deliveries at Edgbaston left England reeling before Pant’s unforgettable face-off with Jofra Archer at Lord’s.
Archer, returning to Test cricket after an absence of over four years, was visibly irked when Pant audaciously charged his second delivery on the climactic final day – a move that backfired as Archer demolished his off stump with a ferocious 90mph delivery.
As tensions mounted and the crowd’s roar intensified, Archer couldn’t resist a parting jibe at Pant, remarking with a sardonic edge: “Charge that now.”
Pant’s trademark explosive batting and daring stroke play had been sorely missed for two years following his involvement in a near-fatal car crash in 2022.
At Leeds, he etched his name into the record books, becoming only the second wicketkeeper-batsman after Zimbabwean legend Andy Flower to notch up a century in both innings of a Test match. Remarkably, five of his eight Test hundreds have been scored against England.
