Rishabh Pant was forced to retire hurt on the first day of the fourth Test. (AP Photo)
TimesofIndia.com in Manchester: India suffered a major blow in the middle of their must-win fourth Test at Old Trafford as star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is likely to be ruled out of the remainder of the series. Initial scans have revealed a mild compound fracture in Pant’s right foot — the suspected cause of the bleeding and swelling that forced him to retire hurt on Day 1.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Pant’s participation in the ongoing Test looks extremely unlikely, and his availability will depend on how quickly the swelling subsides. However, early indications suggest that the pain persisted even after immediate first aid, raising doubts over any further involvement in the match.With no official word yet from the BCCI, team sources have indicated that the management is already exploring replacement options. Left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who toured with the A team and also played county games, is the frontrunner to be drafted into the squad.Pant’s injury occurred just after tea on Day 1, when he attempted a reverse sweep off a yorker from Chris Woakes. Though UltraEdge showed an inside edge that saved him from an LBW dismissal, the delivery crashed into his boot, leaving him in visible agony.Pant, who was on 37 off 48 balls, received immediate on-field treatment before being carted off. At the time, he had stitched a 72-run partnership with Sai Sudharsan that steadied India’s innings after a mini-collapse.
The setback compounds India’s concerns, as Pant had also suffered a finger injury during the third Test at Lord’s and had to relinquish keeping duties to Dhruv Jurel.Trailing 1-2, India must win at Manchester to keep their hopes of a rare Test series triumph in England alive — a challenge that now becomes even tougher without Pant.
