India’s fourth Test match against England at Old Trafford took an unsettling turn on Wednesday after wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant retired hurt with a foot injury that looked severe.
The incident happened during the second session when Pant, batting on 37, attempted a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes. He inside-edged the ball onto his right foot and immediately dropped in pain. Despite surviving the lbw appeal and the subsequent DRS review, it was clear something was wrong.
Medical staff rushed in. The foot swelled almost immediately, and Pant couldn’t walk without support.
Transported by Buggy, Then Sent for Scans
Pant was driven off the field on a small buggy typically reserved for injured players. Moments later, he was taken to the ground’s medical unit. India captain Shubman Gill briefly visited him there before he was sent to a hospital for scans.
There’s been no official diagnosis yet. Overnight assessments are expected to determine how serious the injury is.
England spinner Liam Dawson, who was nearby when it happened, said he felt for Pant and doubted he’d return to play. “Can’t see him playing much more part in this game,” Dawson told reporters.
Non-striker Recalls the Moment
B Sai Sudharsan, who was at the non-striker’s end, described Pant’s condition bluntly. “He was in a lot of pain definitely,” Sudharsan said. “But they’ve gone for scans. We’ll get to know more overnight.”
Asked how much the team might miss Pant, Sudharsan acknowledged the loss but tried to remain optimistic. “Obviously, he was batting really well. We will miss a batter if he doesn’t come back again. But the batters we have now, and a few more allrounders, will try and make up for it. We’ll give our best and bat long.”
A Promising Start Cut Short
Pant’s innings had featured his usual flair. He played a mix of controlled and audacious shots, including a slog sweep for four off Jofra Archer. The very next delivery, he tried a reverse sweep again and missed.
He had scored 37 off 48 deliveries when the injury halted his knock.
This is not the first injury scare for Pant in this series. During the previous Test at Lord’s, he injured his left index finger while keeping wicket. Dhruv Jurel replaced him behind the stumps for the rest of that match. Pant returned for the Manchester Test, cleared despite lingering discomfort.
India Watches and Waits
As of now, Pant’s availability for the remainder of the match remains uncertain. If the scans confirm any serious damage, India may have to reshuffle both their batting and wicketkeeping plans yet again.
The team, already facing a tight contest, could feel the impact quickly. For now, they wait. So do the fans.
