During the first day of the fourth Test match in Manchester on Wednesday, Indian batsman Rishabh Pant had to leave the game due to an injury. While attempting a reverse sweep against England’s bowler Chris Woakes. The ball hit him on his right foot, causing him enough pain to retire.
At the time of the incident, Pant had scored 37 runs off 48 balls. Medical staff attended to him on the field. But they eventually took him off the field on a golf cart, which they were using as an ambulance.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) provided an update after the day’s play: Rishabh Pant was struck on his right foot while batting on Day 1 of the Manchester Test. He was sent for scans from the stadium and we are waiting for the result. The BCCI Medical Team is watching how he is doing.”
Woakes’ full-length delivery hit Pant’s toe, and the England team appealed for a leg-before-wicket decision. However, a faint inside edge, confirmed upon review, saved Pant from being dismissed. This marks the second injury for Pant in this series. He had previously bruised his finger while fielding during the third Test at Lord’s. The injury prevented him from wicket-keeping during England’s second innings.
Sai Sudharsan, another Indian batsman who scored his first Test half-century (61 runs) on Wednesday. He noted that if Pant is unable to continue in the series, it would be a setback for the team.
Of course, it will have consequences, since he (Pant) was playing really well. We will miss one of our batter if he is unable to play again, Sudharsan commented at the post-day press conference. But the other batters who are playing now, and the all-rounders we have, will try to do their best and bat longer to make up for the loss.
Dhruv Jurel stepped in as a substitute wicket-keeper in Pant’s absence during the Lord’s Test.
If Pant is unable to keep wickets in this Test, India can call upon Jurel again. But his performance at Lord’s needs some improvement, as he allowed 26 byes in England’s second innings.
If Pant is ruled out for the rest of the series, the team management might consider Ishan Kishan. He recently played two County matches for Nottinghamshire. Although he was with the India A squad that played against the England Lions before the Test series, the 26-year-old did not play in either of those matches.
The team could also ask KL Rahul to keep wickets, although he has not done so since the tour of South Africa in the 2023-24 season.
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