Cricket fans watching Day 1 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford were left holding their breath, not for a thrilling finish, but in concern, as India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant was wheeled off the field with yet another injury.
The flamboyant wicket-keeper, known for his fearless strokeplay and daredevil spirit, has been ruled out of the remainder of the Manchester Test and the final game at The Oval next week.
Scans have confirmed the worst: a metatarsal fracture in his right foot, sustained on Day 1 of the fourth Test when Pant attempted a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes.
The ball ricocheted straight onto his front foot, and it was immediately clear that something was wrong. He looked in visible agony, eventually retiring hurt on 37 and being transported off the field in a golf buggy.
Painful déjà vu for Team India
Sadly, this isn’t Pant’s first knock in the series. Just a match ago at Lord’s, he took a hit to his left index finger while keeping.
Now, with this fresh injury, India’s team management finds itself scrambling yet again. The visuals outside the team hotel didn’t paint a pretty picture either; fans spotted Pant hobbling in a moon boot, confirming that the damage was more than just a bruise.
According to initial assessments, the recovery timeline could stretch from six to eight weeks. While he’s officially ruled out of keeping for the rest of the match, there’s still a slim chance, depending on the medical team’s advice, that Pant might bat in the second innings. But frankly, it’s a long shot.
The ripple effect: Jurel likely to step up
With Pant sidelined, Dhruv Jurel is expected to don the gloves again. He had stepped in after Pant’s finger injury at Lord’s and will likely reprise his role in the remaining days of the match, and possibly at The Oval as well.
India’s skipper, Shubman Gill, was seen checking in on Pant at the medical facility before he was taken for further scans at a local hospital.
The team’s concern was echoed by England spinner Liam Dawson, who summed it up by saying, “I can’t see him playing much more part in this game.”
His brief knock, a 48-ball 37, was a classic Rishabh Pant innings: fearless, funky and full of flair. A slog sweep off Jofra Archer, followed by a reverse sweep off Woakes, captured the essence of the man. But this time, that instinct cost him dearly.
This injury is more than just a personal setback. For India, who trail 2-1 in the five-match series, Pant’s absence is a serious dent in both the batting order and the dressing room energy.
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