India’s hopes of staging a comeback in the ongoing Test series against England have taken a significant hit, as star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the fourth Test due to a fractured toe.
The injury occurred on the first day of the match and is expected to keep him out of action for at least six weeks, as per reports.
Pant was forced to retire hurt after being hit on his right toe by a delivery from Chris Woakes during the last session. He was batting smoothly on 37 at the time. The hit came on the 68th over of India's innings, when Pant tried to play a reverse sweep against Woakes but did not make a proper connection. The ball struck an inside edge and hit his boot.
The blow resulted in heavy swelling, as large as a table tennis ball, and also resulted in bleeding visible to the naked eye. Not able to support himself on his foot, Pant had to be wheeled off the field on a buggy, retiring hurt after playing a fast 37 from 48 balls. He had compiled a hopeful 72-run partnership with B. Sai Sudharsan before the mishap.
After the day's play, Sudharsan informed about Pant's health in the press conference.
"He was in a lot of pain, certainly, but they have gone for scans; we will come to know overnight, likely get the news tomorrow," Sudharsan stated. "Obviously, since he was batting really well today too. So, it will certainly have implications.".
But at the same time, the batters who are currently batting and there are not many more all-rounders inside. So, we will attempt and provide our best and support long so that we negotiate that loss very well.". I mean, I could sense the dismissal, it bounced a bit more and rebounded a bit more from the pavilion and actually quite a number of balls was bouncing a bit more from the pavilion and I felt, I think we can perceive a bit more in the next few days," he said.
With Pant injured, Ishan Kishan is expected to be included as a reserve wicketkeeper for the fifth and last Test, to be held at The Oval in London.
India closed on 264 for 4 at stumps on Day 1, with Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur remaining unbeaten on 19 each.
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