Rishabh Pant’s injury during the Manchester Test against England has cast a shadow over India’s campaign, with former coach Ravi Shastri expressing deep concern about the seriousness of the incident given Rishabh Pant’s high pain threshold. The incident, which occurred late on Day 1, left Rishabh Pant grimacing in pain and needing immediate medical attention, raising fears about his availability in a must-win match for India.
Rishabh Pant sustained the injury while attempting a reverse sweep against Chris Woakes, resulting in an inside edge that struck his foot. Despite immediate medical attention on the field, Rishabh Pant was unable to stand without support and was subsequently taken off using a golf cart-like vehicle for further assessment. As the day drew to a close, Rishabh Pant was rushed to a hospital for scans, with India captain Shubman Gill also visiting to check on him, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Shastri Expresses Concern Over Rishabh Pant’s Condition
Ravi Shastri, speaking on Sky Sports, painted a worrying picture regarding Rishabh Pant’s injury, stressing that his high tolerance for pain makes the incident concerning. Shastri noted that despite applying ice to the injury, the overnight condition could worsen, potentially ruling out Rishabh Pant from participating further in the Test.
“Just seeing his face, grimacing there. He has a pain threshold that’s very high, and for him to be grimacing in pain in that fashion makes it very serious. It can only get worse overnight. When you get up in the morning, it can be really sore, no matter the amount of ice you put. He will be icing it through the night. Let’s hope it’s not a break or a crack,” Shastri commented.
The seriousness of the injury comes as a significant concern for India, considering Rishabh Pant’s crucial role in the middle order, especially in a match that is pivotal for India’s standing in the series.
India’s Solid Start Marred by Rishabh Pant’s Injury
Before the injury, India had put up a commendable batting performance after being asked to bat first. At stumps, India was positioned at 264/4, with Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur at the crease, each unbeaten on 19 runs. Sai Sudharsan was the top scorer with a composed 61 off 151 balls, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul contributed 58 and 46, respectively, providing a solid foundation for India’s innings.
Rishabh Pant, who was looking steady and had reached 37 runs, was forming a promising partnership with Sai Sudharsan, threatening to take the game away from England before his unfortunate injury provided the hosts with a crucial opening. Taking advantage of the situation, England captain Ben Stokes executed a well-planned short-ball strategy to dismiss Sudharsan, halting India’s momentum.
A total of 83 overs were bowled on the first day before bad light forced an early end to play. As the Indian camp waits anxiously for Rishabh Pant’s scan reports, the team’s strategy for the remainder of the Test will depend heavily on his availability, with India needing a strong performance to keep their series hopes alive in England.
