Is Pant's Injury a 'Body Blow' for India?

Manchester, July 24 (NationPress) Former India head coach Ravi Shastri described Rishabh Pant's foot fracture during the ongoing Test match against England in Manchester as a ‘significant setback. He emphasized that this injury will impact the visitors' dressing room as they have lost a vital batter from their lineup.

During the 68th over of India’s innings on the first day, Pant attempted a calculated reverse sweep against seam bowler Chris Woakes, but the ball struck his right foot after an inside edge. The swelling on the top of his foot resembled a table tennis ball and there was visible bleeding, preventing Pant from putting any weight on his injured foot.

Ultimately, an ambulance buggy resembling a golf cart was utilized to transport a visibly distressed Pant off the field, as he retired hurt, scoring 37 off 48 balls after forming a 72-run partnership with B. Sai Sudharsan. Subsequent scans confirmed a fracture in his metatarsals, prompting a minimum recovery period of six weeks.

“It’s a significant setback. It will influence the dressing room dynamics, as they’ve lost a key batter for this match—not just for this innings, but for the next as well. If India finds itself in a challenging position, his contributions would have been crucial. He’s in form and brings a unique energy that disrupts the opposition’s strategy,” said Shastri.

“From England's perspective, they’ll think, ‘at least we can manage the game better now.’ There’s no player in the middle to cause them sleepless nights; they no longer have that concern,” Shastri added during a Sky Sports broadcast ahead of the second day's play.

Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, remarked that Pant’s injury is 'a significant issue' from a series standpoint. “Dhruv Jurel has been doing a lot of wicketkeeping this morning. The ball from Woakes that injured Pant might have effectively given England two wickets, as Pant may not return to bat in this or the next innings. The following Test starts a week from today; losing such an influential player is a massive blow for the series,” he noted.

With India resuming at 264/4, Woakes expressed that if England could secure two quick wickets, they could gain an advantage in the match. “If Pant is out, which I’m hearing he potentially is, that’s a setback for them. He’s been a key player and a tough opponent for bowlers,” Woakes said.

“With the new ball this morning, we need to ensure we bowl in the right areas—getting two quick wickets could allow us to navigate through their tail. It’s typical Test match cricket; the new ball is crucial, and the first hour is vital to take control of the game.”