Rishabh Pant's injury has sent shockwaves through the Indian camp during the fourth Test against England in Manchester. The wicket-keeper batter sustained a blow to his right foot while attempting a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes on the first day of the match. Scans have revealed a fracture in his toe, which is expected to keep him out of action for at least six weeks. This not only casts doubt on his further participation in the ongoing Test but also rules him out of the final Test at The Oval.
Pant's absence is a significant setback for India, considering his valuable contributions with the bat throughout the series. He has been in impressive form, having already scored two centuries and two fifties in the first three Tests. In fact, during the first day of the fourth Test, Pant achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first-ever wicketkeeper-batter to score 1,000-plus runs in an away country in Test cricket. Beyond his individual achievements, Pant's aggressive batting style and ability to counterattack have often shifted the momentum in India's favor. His absence will undoubtedly create a void in the middle order and reduce the team's batting depth.
The injury occurred in the 68th over of India's innings when Pant attempted a premeditated reverse sweep but missed, resulting in the ball hitting his right boot. The impact left him in visible pain, and he had to be taken off the field on a buggy. While there was an initial hope that he might bat again with the aid of painkillers, the severity of the fracture makes that prospect highly unlikely.
With Pant sidelined, the immediate question is who will take over the wicket-keeping duties for the remainder of the Manchester Test and the final Test at The Oval. According to a BCCI source, Ishan Kishan is likely to be called in as a cover for Pant for the fifth Test. However, the team management might look at other options for the current Test match.
Dhruv Jurel kept wickets in both innings of the previous Test at Lord's when Pant had hurt his finger.
The injury to Pant adds to India's growing list of fitness concerns in this series. Fast bowlers Akash Deep (groin) and Arshdeep Singh (finger) were already ruled out ahead of the Manchester Test, leading to a debut for Anshul Kamboj. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has also been ruled out of the series due to a knee injury. These injuries have forced India to make multiple changes to their playing XI, disrupting the team's balance and composition.
