India has suffered a major blow in the ongoing Manchester Test, as wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is likely to be ruled out for six weeks following a foot injury. The incident occurred during Day 1of the match, when Pant was batting on 37 and tried to play a reverse sweep against Chris Woakes, the ball struck him on his right foot near the toe, causing severe pain and visible bleeding.
Pant was unable to continue and had to be helped off the field. According to Sai Sudharsan, Pant was in severe pain and couldn’t even walk on his own. He was assisted off the field with the help of a golf cart and was rushed to the hospital soon after. Although the team briefly considered the possibility of Pant batting again using painkillers, chances look “Very bleak.” According to insiders, Pant still needs help walking and remains in significant discomfort. A BCCI source confirmed the fracture, and the medical team has since advised Pant to rest for six weeks. “The scan report showed a fracture and he is ruled out for six weeks. The medical team is trying to see if he can come out to bat again by taking a pain killer. He still needs support to walk though and chances of his batting looks very bleak,” a source in the BCCI confirmed to The Indian Express.
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Former cricketers Ricky Ponting and Michael Atherton expressed concern about the injury, pointing out the swelling and Pant’s inability to put weight on the foot. “He (Pant) hardly put his foot on the ground. The immediate swelling was a worry for me. I’ve had a metatarsal injury myself, and they’re small, fragile bones. The fact he couldn’t put any weight on it, it doesn’t look good at all,” Ponting said on Sky Sports.
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Pant’s absence will be deeply felt by Team India, especially given his explosive form and key role behind the stumps. The BCCI Selection committee has decided to add Ishan Kishan to the squad ahead of the fifth Test at The Oval (July 31-August 4), with Dhruv Jurel continuing wicketkeeping duties in the meantime.
