India are waiting anxiously for the results of a scan on wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s foot injury sustained on the opening day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford against England.
Pant underwent a scan after getting hit on the right foot while attempting a reverse sweep off a Chris Woakes delivery. He appeared to be in severe pain and was unable to put weight on his foot. He was accompanied by the physio and medical team and was taken off the field on a cart. A visible lump was seen on the side of his foot, along with some bleeding.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan described Pant’s reverse sweep attempt off Woakes as outrageous. “The shot he tried to take on was ridiculous really, trying to reverse-sweep a bowler bowling 80mph,” Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special.
He also added that it is unlikely Pant will return to the field in this Test. “I’m no expert, but when you see a foot like that, I can’t imagine we’re going to see too much more of Rishabh Pant. It’s quite possible India will be playing against England with 10 men for the remaining four days.”
Vaughan further said that Pant’s injury would be a “huge play” in the series, giving England an undue advantage. “The Rishabh Pant injury is such a play in the game,” Vaughan added. “For India to lose a player who was playing with such control, clarity and flamboyancy at times.”
Underwent scans
Meanwhile, India batter Sai Sudharsan confirmed that Pant has undergone a scan. “He has gone for scans. We will get to know more overnight, and probably get the information tomorrow,” said Sudharsan, who was batting with Pant at the time of the injury.
The injury came as a big blow to India, as Pant was looking in control and playing his shots confidently. He was batting on 37 off 48 balls when he retired hurt. This is his second consecutive injury – in the Lord’s Test, Pant picked up a finger injury which forced him to hand over the wicketkeeping duties to Dhruv Jurel for the remainder of the match.
However, he was able to bat in that game. But given his inability to put weight on his foot, it is unlikely he will be able to bat again at Old Trafford. Pant had returned to Test cricket last September, almost two years after a car crash in which he nearly lost his life.
‘Can’t see him playing much more’
England spinner Liam Dawson, playing for the first time in the series as a replacement for Shoaib Bashir, said he does not expect Pant to return to match.
“Thoughts are with him, that didn’t look a great injury,” said Dawson, who took a wicket in his first day of Test cricket for eight years. “We hope he’s alright. He’s a very good player, but I can’t see him playing much more of a part in this game,” he added.