Team India has been dealt a significant setback in the current India vs England Test series as wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the rest of the Old Trafford Test and the next final Test at The Oval. The injury, certified to be a metatarsal fracture in his right foot, happened on the first day of the fourth Test.
Pant’s fitness as a batsman in the ongoing Test remains under consideration, with the final call to be taken by the Indian team management in consultation with the BCCI medical team.
How the Injury Occurred
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The accident happened during the second session when Rishabh Pant tried to play a reverse sweep off England pacer Chris Woakes. Sadly, he inside-edged the ball onto his right foot. The blow created swelling immediately, and Pant was visibly in pain as he had to retire hurt on 37 runs.
Fan videos spotted Pant subsequently at the Manchester team hotel wearing a moon boot, indicating the gravity of the injury. He was removed from the field on a golf cart and afterwards went through scans, which confirmed the fracture in the foot.
Medical Update and Recovery Time
The early diagnosis indicates a period of recovery of six to eight weeks, thereby knocking Pant out of the current India vs England series. He first got treatment at the stadium and was later transferred to a local hospital for further assessment. Captain Shubman Gill was spotted visiting Pant at the medical center, indicating the worry in the team.
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Substitute Wicketkeeper and Replacement Options
As Rishabh Pant is not able to resume wicketkeeping responsibilities, Dhruv Jurel, the substitute who played the last Test at Lord’s when Pant hurt his finger, will likely have to wear the gloves again.
With the fifth and last Test at The Oval on the horizon, India will now have to find a replacement for Pant. One of the likely candidates is Ishan Kishan, who was the deputy to Jurel during the India A tour against England Lions this season.
Player and Opposition Reactions
England’s Liam Dawson said after the game that he “can’t see [Pant] playing much more part in this game,” and India’s B Sai Sudharsan, with whom Pant was batting, acknowledged that he was “in a lot of pain.”
Pant’s innings leading up to his retirement hurt were characteristic of his pizzazz, including an aggressive slog sweep off Jofra Archer and a reverse sweep attempt that resulted in the injury.
What This Means for India
This is the second injury in a row for Rishabh Pant in the series after a finger injury while playing in the Lord’s Test. With India already having to fight a close series, his loss is a major setback going into the last game of the India vs England Test series.
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