INDIA TOUR OF ENGLAND, 2025
Pant had to be helped to get off the field on the opening day. © Getty
Rishabh Pant, who retired hurt on the opening day of the fourth Test in Manchester, has suffered a fracture in his right toe, an injury that could take up to two months to heal. BCCI later issued a statement confirming Pant will no longer perform wicket-keeping duties in the remainder of the Test at Old Trafford, and will be replaced by Dhruv Jurel for the same. Pant, however, remains available to bat “as per the team’s requirements”.
However, the southpaw came out to bat in the first session of Day 2 following the dismissal of Shardul Thakur. He received a standing ovation as he limped to the crease and faced seven deliveries and scored a solitary run in this phase of play. Pant struggled to reach out to deliveries in his short stay before rain forced an early Lunch.
He continued to bat after Lunch clobbering a six over deep mid-wicket off a slower ball from Archer and raised his fifty with a drive through the covers for four. England consistently targetted the area close to his right foot during his innings. He eventually was dismissed in an almost carbon-copy of his Lord’s dismissal in the second innings. He was castled by Archer on 54 before he mustered his way back to the pavilion after a courageous innings.
The India vice-captain was hit during the final session on Day 1, when he copped a blow to his right foot while attempting a reverse-sweep off Chris Woakes. He was batting on 37 at that point, and England even sought a referral for LBW, only for the replays to confirm an inside edge. However, the 27-year-old couldn’t continue to bat and needed a buggy to wheel him off the ground.
Scans later confirmed a fracture, though Pant has not left the team camp. He is still unable to put any pressure on the injured foot.
The fracture and subsequent two-month layoff rule puts Pant out of India’s immediate international fixtures – including the proposed white-ball series in Sri Lanka (if cleared) and the Asia Cup (if held). His next possible assignment could be the home Test series against the West Indies in October, or, if not fit in time, the white-ball tour of Australia in late October to early November.
The injury adds to India’s growing list of fitness concerns in this series. Fast bowlers Akash Deep (groin) and Arshdeep Singh (finger) were both ruled out ahead of the match, leading to a debut for Anshul Kamboj.
Pant had also hurt his finger in the previous Test at Lord’s, which prevented him from keeping wickets. This latest setback comes as another blow to India as they try to level the five-match series, which England currently lead 2-1.
*Copy updated following the resumption of Rishabh Pant’s innings on Day 2
© Cricbuzz
