Rishabh Pant showed incredible courage as he battled through serious pain to score a vital 74 for India on Day 3 of the ongoing third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
The Indian wicketkeeper-batter’s left index finger, which was hit by a Jasprit Bumrah delivery on Day 1 at Lord’s, was still hurting badly. Due to the injury, Dhruv Jurel was handed the wicketkeeping duty. Despite this, every time Pant played a shot using his bottom hand, the pain was visible on his face.
Brave Rishabh Pant fights through pain at Lord’s
Despite the serious pain, the left-handed batter didn’t walk away and continued to fight for every run, showing the same fearless attitude he is known for. Pant played a solid knock of 74 runs off 112 balls, laced with eight boundaries and two sixes, and helped India stay in the fight.
But just before the lunch break, a moment of misjudgment ended the Indian vice-captain’s stay at the crease. With KL Rahul nearing his second Test century at Lord’s, he pushed Pant for a risky single off spinner Shoaib Bashir’s last ball before lunch.
England captain Ben Stokes reacted quickly, picked up the ball cleanly at the covers, and fired in a direct throw at the non-striker’s end. Pant was well short of his crease, as England ended the dangerous partnership of 141 runs for the fourth wicket at Lord’s.
KL Rahul reveals Rishabh Pant’s battle with pain and disappointment at Lord’s
After the end of Day 3 at Lord’s, KL Rahul revealed that Rishabh Pant was struggling with pain throughout his time at the crease after taking a hard blow on his gloves. Rahul said that Pant was in a lot of pain and visibly disappointed, as India needed him in the ongoing Lord’s Test.
Even while dealing with the discomfort, Pant kept telling Rahul how frustrated he was for missing out on shots he normally would’ve sent to the boundary. This is not a great sign for India, as they have already lost a wicketkeeper, Pant, but they really need the batter Pant at Lord’s.
KL Rahul said at the press conference after the end of Day 3 at Lord’s: “Rishabh Pant was in a lot of pain. He got hit on the gloves as well during the batting. He was in a lot of pain. He kept telling me that he was missing out on a lot of balls that he felt like should have gone for boundaries & he was very disappointed with that.”
Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul set a new record in England
Notably, Pant has added another achievement to his name during the ongoing third Test against England. The Indian star has now scored the most runs (408*) by a visiting wicketkeeper in England, breaking the previous record of 383 runs set by New Zealand’s Tom Blundell in 2022.
Additionally, Rahul and Pant have created a special record in Indian cricket history. They now hold the record for the most century partnerships by an Indian pair in England. Rahul and Pant have built three 100-plus stands together on English soil.