Rishabh Pant's Injury Update: Key Developments from the Fourth Test Against England
Injury Update on Rishabh Pant
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shared an important update regarding Rishabh Pant's injury during Day 2 of the ongoing fourth Test match against England at Old Trafford, Manchester.
On the first day of the Test, Pant came to bat after the dismissal of skipper Shubman Gill at a score of 140/3. He started strong, hitting two boundaries and a six, but his innings was cut short when a yorker from Chris Woakes struck his right foot in the 68th over.
Pant was seen in significant pain and required immediate medical assistance. Unable to walk or place weight on his foot, he was taken off the field on a stretcher, retiring hurt with a score of 37 runs off 48 balls.
Fingers crossed for our X-factor 🤞Speedy recovery, Rishabh! #SonySportsNetwork #ENGvIND #TeamIndia
According to reports, Pant has sustained a toe fracture and has been advised to rest for six weeks, which means he will miss the remainder of the Test series.
A source from the BCCI stated, "The scan revealed a fracture, and he is out for six weeks. The medical team is exploring the possibility of him batting again with pain relief, but he still requires assistance to walk, making his chances of batting very slim."
Rishabh Pant's Role in the Match
Despite the injury concerns, the BCCI announced some positive news. Pant will not take on wicketkeeping duties for the rest of the match, with Dhruv Jurel stepping in as the wicketkeeper.
However, Pant is expected to continue batting on Day 2 as needed by the team.
The BCCI confirmed, "Rishabh Pant, who injured his right foot on Day 1, will not be wicketkeeping for the remainder of the match. Dhruv Jurel will take over this role. Despite his injury, Pant will be available to bat as required by the team."
Future Availability and Team Challenges
The BCCI did not clarify Pant's availability for the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval.
India is already facing challenges with injuries in the squad. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out for the rest of the England Test series due to a knee injury from a gym session, while Arshdeep Singh (thumb) and Akash Deep (groin) were also unavailable for the Manchester Test due to their respective injuries.
Rishabh Pant's Performance in the Series
Rishabh Pant has been a standout performer for India in the current Test series against England. In seven innings, he has scored 462 runs, which includes two centuries and two fifties, boasting an impressive average of 77.00.
Previously, during the Lord's Test, Pant had an injury to his left index finger on Day 1, which kept him from wicketkeeping duties, with Dhruv Jurel taking over. Nevertheless, Pant batted with the injured finger, scoring 83 runs, including a resilient 74 off 112 balls.
Despite earlier doubts about his participation in the Manchester Test, Pant managed to recover from his finger injury in time to play as a wicketkeeper-batter.