India’s injury worries deepened on the opening day of the fourth Test against England in Manchester as Rishabh Pant suffered a severe blow to his right foot, raising serious doubts over his availability for the remainder of the match. The wicketkeeper-batter who had already been nursing an injury from the previous Test hurt himself again, this time while attempting an daring reverse sweep off Chris Woakes in the 68th over of India’s innings.
Batting confidently on 37 off 48 balls, Rishabh Pant misjudged the delivery, only managing an inside edge that smashed into his right boot. What initially seemed like a harmless shot quickly escalated into a worrying scene. Rishabh Pant removed his gloves and visibly struggled to stay upright, frowning in pain and unable to place his foot on the ground. Medical staff rushed in and after a brief on-field assessment, he was escorted off in a golf-style buggy. Meanwhile, England had appealed for an LBW but the review showed a clear inside edge before impact, ruling the batter not out.
The extent of Rishabh Pant’s injury became apparent as the swelling in his left foot grew rapidly, forcing an immediate medical examination at the ground. India’s captain Shubman Gill even visited the facility to check on his teammate. The BCCI later confirmed that Pant had been taken to a hospital for scans and would be closely monitored by the board’s medical team.
Rishabh Pant’s latest setback follows a finger injury sustained during the third Test, where he had been hit while collecting a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah. Despite not keeping wickets in that match due to the injury, he had still contributed with the bat in both innings. This second incident, however, appears more severe and may sideline him for the rest of the game, if not longer.
England spinner Liam Dawson expressed concern over Rishabh Pant’s injury, stating that it didn’t look promising and he doubted the Indian star would return to the field during the match. Meanwhile, Australia great Ricky Ponting, speaking on a sports channel, shared his own experience with metatarsal injuries and noted the seriousness of Pant’s condition, especially since the 27-year-old couldn’t put any weight on his foot. According to Ricky Ponting, such injuries involve fragile bones and swelling that typically signal something more than a simple bruise.
As the day ended, India were well poised at 264 for 4, with Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur steadying the innings after Pant retired hurt. But the mood in the Indian camp was understandably tense, with their key wicketkeeper-batter facing an uncertain recovery timeline at a critical juncture of the series.
Get Well Soon, Rishabh Pant.
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