Rishabh Pant hobbles out to a standing ovation from Manchester crowd; Shardul Thakur's incredible gesture…: Watch video
The injury occurred when Pant attempted an audacious reverse sweep to a yorker-length delivery from Chris Woakes during the final session of Day 1. He immediately went down in visible agony, was carted off the field, and later taken to the hospital for scans. Doctors confirmed a foot fracture, advising a six-week rest—effectively ruling him out of the match.
However, on Day 2, the BCCI issued a surprise update stating that Pant had rejoined the team at the ground and was available to bat, although Dhruv Jurel would take over wicketkeeping duties.
Most expected Pant to walk in as the final batter, but in a dramatic twist, he chose to bat right after Shardul Thakur was dismissed by Ben Stokes in the 102nd over. As Pant descended the stairs to thunderous applause from the English crowd, Thakur, on his way out, made a stirring gesture—patting Pant on the head in acknowledgment of his bravery.
'This is remarkable'
Former cricketer Ian Ward, who was on commentary for Sky Cricket, was all praise for Pant. He said: "Pant is gingerly making his way to the middle. This is quite remarkable, good for him because he is obviously still in great discomfort. Now, anything can happen, apart from quick singles. He is not moving with any great freedom."
Former India teammate Dinesh Karthik, on the other hand, was left astounded at Pant's decision to bat just a day after his injury. He added: "We all know the series hangs in the balance, so it's remarkable to see Pant come out to bat, especially with the ball moving around. It will be interesting to see what method of batting he adopts. I'm quite astounded he's out here right now."
Pant added just two runs to his overnight score of 37 after playing seven balls on Day 2. India are 321 for six at Lunch.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
7 minutes ago
- NDTV
India To Hand Debut To 26-Year-Old Star In Oval Test Against England: Report
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is set to make his debut in the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval, starting July 31. The 26-year-old bowled at full tilt during India's optional training session on Tuesday, having recovered from an hand injury which had ruled him out of the Manchester Test last week. According to a report in the Times of India (TOI), Arshdeep was in the management's plan for the last two Tests, but his injury, which required stitches, ruled him out of the game. "It is understood that the management had him in the plans for the last two Tests, but his injury made him unavailable in Manchester. With Arshdeep very likely to get into the XI, India's bowling combination is set to be rejigged once again," the report said. The report added that Akash Deep, one of the heroes of India's famous win at Edgbaston, is also likely to return to the playing XI. " Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep are likely to be the other two seamers, and a late call could be taken, if needed, on Jasprit Bumrah." Meanwhile, Arshdeep's childhood coach Jaswant Rai feels the pacer is ready to take on the red ball challenge. "Playing red-ball cricket for the country is the ultimate dream of any cricketer. The same is with Arshdeep. Wo pak chuka hai (He is ripe now). He should get a chance to play with the red ball. He can bring the balance that India has been looking for so long. He has patiently done the hard yards, and I might sound biased, but he deserves the Test cap. If not in England, then where?" Jaswant told TOI. India forced a draw at Old Trafford in Manchester to stay hot on England's heels as the gruelling series heads towards its conclusion. Indian squad: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc, wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
NDTV
7 minutes ago
- NDTV
Shubman Gill Receives Massive Verdict Amid Handshake Row: 'Not Scared To Poke...'
Former England cricket team skipper Michael Vaughan was quite impressed with Shubman Gill 's leadership in the ongoing Test series. The India-England series was the first one for Gill as a captain but his batting performances as well as courtageous outlook has earned him a lot of praise. While India are trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, the young side has shown a lot of fight and Gill has been leading from the front. Vaughan praised Gill for the aggression that he has shown on the pitch and how he has backed his teammates in multiple situation during the series when tempers flared on the pitch. "I like to see a young captain with a little bit of authority. I've actually loved the way that he has spoken. He's not been scared to kind of poke the bear. You've got to stand up for your teammates, for what you believe as a team. So far, in Shubman Gill, I am seeing a captain that is willing to do that," Vaughan said on Cricbuzz. Gill got into an on-field spat with Zak Crawley during the third match and during the fourth Test at Old Trafford, he once again backed his batters during the entire 'handshake' controversy. Former India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik was all praise for Gill as well and credited him for how he handled the situation towards the end of the fourth Test. "He came in as a young captain and people were not sure how it is going to pan out, but I can tell you, we have got a bona fide superstar as a Test captain because of the guts that he is showing as a batter, because of how much he stands his ground about what he believes in. The last 10-15 minutes, the way it unfolded, he was just standing there in the balcony, literally poker face saying, 'Get out there, get your hundreds'," Dinesh Karthik said.
Hindustan Times
13 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Wanted to join a club that ranks among top 3': Florian Wirtz on joining Liverpool
German star Florian Wirtz officially joined Liverpool before the 2025-26 Premier League season. The former Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder opened up about his move, sharing his joy, the thought process behind the decision, and a heartfelt message for the fans who had been eagerly waiting for his arrival. German star Florian Wirtz officially joined Liverpool before the 2025-26 Premier League season.(AP) "I feel very happy and proud. It's finally done, something I have been waiting for a long time. I'm really happy," Wirtz said on JioHotstar. The 22-year-old playmaker was one of Europe's most sought-after talents this summer, with several clubs showing interest, but Wirtz's decision was clear. "I felt it was the right moment in my career to take the next step. I wanted to join a club that ranks among the top three in the world, and in my opinion, Liverpool is one of them," he explained. "I saw myself in the best hands at Liverpool and was truly convinced by the people here, the club's vision, and what it offers me. Ultimately, it was an easy decision to make," he said. Wirtz now begins a fresh chapter in the Premier League, a challenge he's excited to embrace, but even before kicking a ball for his new club, the young German already feels the warmth of the Anfield faithful. "I would say thank you for the support," he said, addressing Liverpool fans who had flooded social media platforms, urging the club to sign him. "I have seen on Instagram and elsewhere how much they wanted me to join. I'm really looking forward to playing in front of them and achieving great things together. I'm very happy and sorry for the long wait," he noted.
