India's hopes of levelling the Test series against England took a worrying turn late on Day 1 of the Manchester Test as Rishabh Pant left the field with a painful foot injury.
The wicket-keeper batter was struck on the foot by his own reverse-sweep inside edge off Chris Woakes and couldn't stand up unassisted. Moments later, he was helped off using a golf cart-style vehicle.
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This has sparked fears about his availability for the rest of the match and possibly the series. Pant's grimace said it all.
A player known for his high pain tolerance, the fact that he was visibly in agony was enough to concern former India head coach Ravi Shastri.
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Shastri fears Rishabh Pant might miss Test series after injury
Ravi Shastri, speaking on Sky Sports, expressed serious concern after watching Pant's reaction on the field. He pointed out that Pant rarely shows visible discomfort which made the injury all the more alarming.
"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," Shastri said.
Shastri also warned that the damage might worsen overnight despite any treatment.
"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 it's not a crack," he added.
Pant was batting on 37 at the time and had begun to settle into a rhythm with Sai Sudharsan. The duo was building momentum when the injury halted their partnership.
Not long after, Ben Stokes dismissed Sudharsan for 61: a breakthrough that shifted the tone of the evening session.
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Shastri is unsure whether the left-hander will be physically fit enough to bat in the coming days.
"He’ll be ready to go, but it’s the batting part of it. The form he's in, the impact he makes, especially the way he counters Stokes' field settings and bowling changes. The problem is the gap between Tests is just three days. That's not enough recovery time," he concluded.
Rishabh Pant is driven off the field of play after suffering some severe swelling on his right foot and Ravindra Jadeja walks out to the middle... 🩹 pic.twitter.com/vJlu5CABQ8
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 23, 2025
With Pant rushed to hospital for scans and captain Shubman Gill personally checking on him, India's dressing room knows this could be a big blow. Pant's energy, counterattack and tactical impact are central to India's plans - especially when they are trailing 1-2 in the series with no room for error.
At stumps, India were 264/4 with Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur unbeaten on 19 each. But all eyes remain on whether Rishabh Pant walks out to bat again in this series.