India suffered a major setback in the 4th Test as vice-captain Rishabh Pant was taken off the field due to a serious right foot injury. Pant retired hurt on 37, raising doubts over his return in this crucial Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy match against England at Old Trafford.
India’s campaign in the crucial fourth Test against England was dealt a major blow on Day 1 of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy encounter at Old Trafford, Manchester, as vice-captain Rishabh Pant was forced to leave the field due to a painful right foot injury.
The incident occurred during the 68th over of India’s first innings. Facing Chris Woakes, Pant attempted a reverse sweep but under-edged the delivery directly onto his right foot. While England unsuccessfully reviewed for a potential leg-before-wicket (lbw), attention quickly shifted to Pant, who was seen writhing in visible pain on the pitch.
India’s physio Kamlesh Jain rushed in to assess the situation during the drinks break. The injury seemed serious, with swelling the size of a table tennis ball developing rapidly on the top of Pant’s foot. Blood was also spotted, and the wicketkeeper-batsman was unable to put any weight on the injured foot. Eventually, Pant had to be transported off the field on an ambulance buggy, retiring hurt after scoring 37 runs off 48 balls in a promising 72-run partnership with B. Sai Sudharsan.
The grimace on Pant’s face as he was helped off the field has raised concerns in the Indian camp. The sight of one of India’s most dynamic and resilient cricketers being assisted by medical staff left fans and teammates worried about his participation in the remainder of the match—and possibly the series.
In light of Pant’s injury, Ravindra Jadeja was the next batter to walk in. The transition was somber, with the momentum of India’s innings slightly jolted by Pant’s premature departure. This is the second injury Pant has suffered in the series. Earlier, in the third Test at Lord’s, he sustained an injury to his left finger while keeping wickets. He was temporarily replaced behind the stumps by Dhruv Jurel, who also contributed with the bat by scoring 74 and 9 in that match.
Former India head coach and commentator Ravi Shastri weighed in on the development during the live broadcast. “With the Pant injury, which looks pretty serious, England will think they have the opportunity to crack the game open,” he remarked. “With Pant not there, Stokes feels he can control the pace of the game.”
Shastri’s comments underscore how pivotal Pant is to India’s middle-order balance and overall strategy. Not only is Pant a dependable wicketkeeper, but his aggressive batting style often puts the opposition on the back foot. His absence could allow England’s bowlers, led by the experienced Woakes and Ben Stokes, to apply more pressure on the Indian lineup.
However, there is a glimmer of hope for Indian fans. According to Section 25.4 of the ICC Playing Conditions, a player who retires hurt due to injury or illness can resume his innings later—provided he is cleared by the medical team and umpires.
The regulation states:
“A batter may retire at any time during his innings when the ball is dead. The umpires, before allowing play to proceed, shall be informed of the reason for a batter retiring. If a batter retires because of illness, injury, or any other unavoidable cause, that batter is entitled to resume his innings.”
Whether or not Pant returns to bat remains uncertain and will likely depend on how the injury develops over the next few hours or overnight. If the swelling reduces and no fractures are detected, he might be able to return to the crease in the latter part of the innings. Otherwise, India may have to finish this crucial Test without their vice-captain’s further contributions.
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As the Test match continues, all eyes remain on medical updates from the Indian camp. With the series delicately poised, the outcome of this match could very well hinge on Pant’s availability—and India’s ability to adapt in his absence.
