Rishabh Pant’s foot injury has really hurt Team India’s batting in the Manchester Test against England. After breaking his foot on Day 1, Pant, who had to stop playing because of the injury, came out to bat on Day 2, even though he was clearly in pain. He batted for a bit and got to his half-century before Jofra Archer bowled him out with a fantastic ball. It’s not known yet if Pant will bat in the second innings.
England legend Geoffrey Boycott shared his thoughts on Pant’s injury, saying it was unlucky but the player is responsible.
It’s always a shame when a player gets injured and can’t play properly, especially someone as skilled as him. But he can only blame himself, Boycott said on The Telegraph Podcast.
Boycott noted that Pant didn’t need to play that shot since India was doing well at the time.
They were in control, batting normally, and there was no need to try something crazy. Rishabh tries incredible shots. When they work, people are amazed and cheer him on, which is what his batting is all about. But sometimes, when they don’t work, it can look stupid. India was getting into a great batting position. Some might say that’s just him, but him not batting in both innings could lose India the match. It will reduce the runs they can score in that innings. He’s that good, he added.
Pant was batting at 37 on Day 1 when he hurt himself trying to reverse sweep a Chris Woakes yorker, which hit his toe and reportedly broke his right foot.
Pant’s injury has brought up the question again of whether Test cricket should allow substitutes for injuries. Ex-England batter David Lloyd supports this idea for external injuries like Pant’s.
I’m probably against runners, but I’m for substitutes for an external injury. It makes things complicated, I know. But if it’s an external injury, like a break, and the player won’t be fit for six weeks, you could have a similar substitute. So that’s something to think about. But not like replacing a batter with a spinner, Lloyd said on TalkSport Cricket.