Team India suffered a major setback as Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England due to a fractured toe.
The wicketkeeper-batter, who was batting on 37 during Day 1 of the Manchester Test, injured his right foot after inside-edging a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes.
Pant was visibly in pain, received on-field treatment, and eventually had to be taken off via a golf cart-like vehicle. Post stumps, scans confirmed a toe fracture, with doctors advising six weeks of rest, effectively ruling him out of the Oval Test as well.
“There is just no chance of him batting as he is in a lot of pain right now,” a BCCI source told Hindustan Times.
With Pant out, Dhruv Jurel will serve as the substitute wicketkeeper for the remainder of the match, but he won’t be allowed to bat, leaving India effectively with 10 batters.
Impact on India’s Campaign
-
Pant had been India’s most consistent performer in this series, scoring two centuries in the Headingley Test and a gritty 74 at Lord’s despite injuries.
-
India is already struggling with injuries to Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, further weakening the squad.
-
Captain Shubman Gill reportedly looked worried and visited Pant in the dressing room after the incident.
Pant’s injury is another hurdle in his incredible comeback journey, following the life-threatening car accident in 2022 that nearly ended his career. His return to competitive cricket began with the IPL 2024 and then the T20 World Cup, followed by a successful Test comeback against Bangladesh in September 2024.
At stumps on Day 1, India were 264/4, with Ravindra Jadeja (19)* and Shardul Thakur (19)* at the crease.
