Rishabh Pant suffers fractured toe, India wait on possibility of him batting again in fourth Test: Report

Rishabh Pant is most likely ruled out of the ongoing fourth Test against England after suffering a freak right foot injury on Day 1, Wednesday, a media report has claimed. Additionally, Ishan Kishan could be added to the Indian Test squad for the fifth Test as a replacement for Pant.

Pant suffered a blow to his right foot after inside-edging a fuller delivery from Chris Woakes onto his right foot while attempting a reverse sweep on the opening day of the Manchester Test. The 27-year-old Indian wicketkeeper-batter was in considerable pain as he was seen hobbling. Later, he was taken out of the field with the help of a buggy and went for scans.

Pant advised six weeks’ rest

The BCCI is yet to officially release the result of the scans, but reports in The Indian Express and Hindustan Times on Thursday claimed that Pant has suffered a toe fracture and has been advised six weeks’ rest.

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However, Pant could come out to bat against in the ongoing fourth Test at Manchester if need arises and he manages to do, as India are 2-1 behind England and are hoping to level the series before the decider at The Oval.

“The scan report showed a fracture and he is ruled out for six weeks. The medical team is trying to see if he can come out to bat again by taking a pain killer. He still needs support to walk though and chances of his batting looks very bleak,” a BCCI source told The Indian Express.

Pant, who was batting on 37 when the incident took place, has been in great form in the Test series against England. He has scored 462 runs so far, the second-highest in the series.

Pant had also injured his left index finger in the third Test at Lord’s, but that did not impact his batting, while Dhruv Jurel kept the wickets for India during the majority of the game.