'Batting with a broken foot': Gautam Gambhir backs injury substitutes after Rishabh Pant's heroics; Ben Stokes calls debate 'ridiculous'
NEW DELHI: India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy due to a foot fracture — an injury he astonishingly batted through during the fourth Test in Manchester.
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Pant, who retired hurt on Day 1 after being struck on the foot while attempting a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes, was seen being carted off the field in visible pain. However, in a remarkable display of grit, he returned to bat on Day 2 and scored a half-century while limping, earning widespread admiration.
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'It's been declared that he's out of the series,' Gambhir said after the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford.
'But one thing I want to say is that the character and the foundation of this team will be built on something Rishabh did for the team and for the country as well.'
Gautam Gambhir fiery press conference: Slams critics, big update on Jasprit Bumrah, Karun vs Sai
'Any amount of praise is not enough for him — especially batting with a broken foot. I think the generations to come will talk about it and the generations coming forward should talk about it.'
Pant's injury reopened the debate around substitution rules in Test cricket.
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Though Pant was replaced behind the stumps by Dhruv Jurel, there was no provision for a full injury replacement — a rule Gambhir feels should be implemented.
'Absolutely, I'm all for it,' he said. 'If the umpires and match referee feel there's a major injury, it's important to have a rule that allows for a substitute. Especially in a series like this. Imagine if we had to play with just 10 players against 11 — how unfortunate would that be?'
Ben Stokes press conference: On handshake controversy, India fightback, his own fitness
England captain Ben Stokes, however, was firm in opposition.
'I think it is absolutely ridiculous that there is a conversation around injury replacements,' he said. 'You pick your 11 for the game, injuries are part of it. That conversation should be shut down.'
Pant was not required to bat in India's second innings as centuries from Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar ensured a draw. However, his courage while injured has become one of the defining moments of the series.
With England leading 2-1, the final Test at The Oval begins Thursday.
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