'Generations Will Talk About This': For Gambhir, No Praise Good Enough For Pant
Rishabh Pant batted with a broken foot during India's first innings at Old Trafford and scored a half-century.
Rishabh Pant has laid the foundation on which the current Indian team's character will be built, says India head coach Gautam Gambhir while lauding the Test vice-captain for returning to bat despite a broken foot. Pant had fractured his toe while batting in India's first innings of the 4th Test and retiring out in excruciating pain.
He returned to bat on Day 2 amidst a loud reception from the Manchester crowd and scored a half-century to help India to 358-all out. The wicketkeeper-batter has been ruled out from the fifth and final Test that starts from Thursday at The Oval.
'The character and foundation of this team will be built on something what Rishabh did for the team and for the country as well. Any amount of praise is not enough for him, especially batting with a broken foot," Gambhir told reporters on Sunday.
'Not many people have done that in the past. And he (Pant) put his hands up. And that is that is why I say that any amount of praise…I can sit here and talk about this for hours and hours. I think the generations will talk about this and generations ahead should talk about it that there is someone who batted with a broken foot," he added.
Gambhir is hopeful Pant, who made 479 runs from four Test on the tour, will make a quick recovery. 'It's unfortunate (Pant being ruled out) because of the kind of form he was in. But again, he's an important member of the Test side and I hope he recovers quickly and comes back quickly and try and deliver again for us," Gambhir said.
India pulled off a memorable draw in Manchester after conceding a huge first innings lead and being two wickets down in their second dig without scoring a run at one stage. Centuries from Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar led their superlative effort on a tricky pitch as they made 425/4 before the two teams agreed for a draw.
India though still trail 1-2 in the five-match series and are focused on ending the tour with a win.
'You are asking someone who only believes in results," Gambhir said. 'I've said that in the past as well, that I believe in results. We are still 2-1 down in the series. This is the Indian team. Yes, there is an inexperience but this is still the best Indian team right now. So for me, I think we are still down 2-1 and hopefully we can try and make it 2-all. That's going to be a good achievement."
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July 28, 2025, 08:03 IST
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