Rishabh Pant’s promising innings came to a sudden end on Day 1 of the India vs England fourth Test at Old Trafford, as the wicketkeeper-batter suffered a painful blow to his right boot. Attempting a reverse-sweep off Chris Woakes, Pant missed the ball completely and was struck flush on his foot. Though UltaEdge revealed a faint contact — averting an LBW verdict — the damage was done. The camera zoomed in on the swelling as blood seeped through the boot.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar rushed out for immediate treatment, but the pain prevented Pant from regaining his stance. A mini-ambulance cart was summoned, and Pant was taken off the field, prompting shocked silence from the crowd. Video footage captured his grimace and the swelling before he was escorted off by medical staff, visibly in agony.
India’s camp rattled: BCCI, Sai Sudharsan, and Liam Dawson reactFollowing Pant’s departure, emergency scans were conducted at a nearby medical facility. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued a statement: “Rishabh Pant was hit on his right foot while batting on Day 1 of the Manchester Test. He was taken for scans from the stadium. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress.”His frustration was evident when he left the field, the emotional moment underscoring the seriousness of the injury.
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Young batter Sai Sudharsan, Pant’s partner at the crease, voiced concern after stumps: “He was in a lot of pain, definitely. They’ve gone for scans — we’ll know more tomorrow. Obviously, we’ll miss a batter if he doesn’t return. It will definitely have consequences.”From the England camp, their all-rounder Liam Dawson also expressed empathy.“Thoughts with Rishabh Pant, but can’t see him take any further part in the match,” he told the press, highlighting how serious the blow looked — even for those on the opposing side.Match Impact: Momentum shifts as India lose another wicketBefore Pant’s exit, India had a solid platform at 212/3, after openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal forging a 94-run partnership. Jaiswal and Rahul’s contrasting tonics steadied early nerves, ensuring no late-morning collapses. But once the session progressed under overcast skies, wickets tumbled — Rahul and Jaiswal departed, followed by a brief and disappointing 12-run stint for Shubman Gill.Pant’s injury broke a growing momentum between himself (37 off 48 balls) and Sai Sudharsan, who had mounted a patient stand. Sudharsan’s 61 off 151 balls consolidated the overs, defending persistently against aggressive bowling. However, when Ben Stokes induced an edge off him, Sai’s character faltered with a pull shot gone wrong.Pant’s retreat paved the way for Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur to come in, and they cautiously nudged the score to 264/4 by stumps. Video Recap: See Pant’s injury & moments afterLooking Ahead: Uncertain future for Pant and IndiaPant’s history with injuries — most notably a finger issue in the last Test at Lord’s — already put India on edge. With concerns about his fitness for the rest of this match and possibly the series, attention now turns to backup wicketkeeping options. Dhruv Jurel, who kept wicket at Lord’s during Pant’s previous injury, likely returns if Pant cannot continue.Shashi Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to fill batting depth, but Pant’s absence leaves a hole. As Day 2 approaches, the team and fans will anxiously await medical updates. Pant’s scans will determine whether he can resume or will be ruled out, raising crucial questions on team balance.
