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‘Rishabh Pant you fighter': Indian wicketkeeper hailed for heroically walking out to bat at Old Trafford despite fractured foot
Rishabh Pant added 17 runs to his overnight score of 37, brinigng up his 18th Test half-century in the process. AP
India were dealt a massive blow after talismanic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was struck on the foot while attempting to reverse sweep a yorker from Chris Woakes on the opening day of the fourth Test against England at Lord's. Pant was confirmed to have due the blow, which resulted in him having to be driven off the ground in a buggy ambulance, and the 27-year-old was expected to miss the remainder of the match, if not the series.
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The fracture, however, did not stop Pant from heroically walking out to bat on Day 2 in an attempt to get India as close to 400 as possible not matter how much pain he was in.
As if that wasn't heroic enough, he would go on to complete a memorable half-century, his 18th in Test cricket, reaching the milestone with a flurry of boundaries after a couple of wickets fell in quick succession at the other end.
'As emotional as anything I have seen'
Pant didn't just receive a standing ovation at the home of the Lancashire County Cricket Club, former and current cricketers as well as fans applauded him for his brave gesture on social media.
Here are select reactions:
Rishabh pant you fighter. #respect — Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 24, 2025
When you represent your country at any level, that's the kind of courage and fighting spirit you show. Hats off to Rishabh Pant for walking out to bat despite the injury. 🇮🇳💪 #RishabhPant #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/oQbUAStA7D — Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) July 24, 2025
I have been fortunate to have seen some great moments in cricket. But to see #RishabhPant walking out to bat with a broken toe and seeing the warmth with which everyone reacted was as emotional as anything I have seen — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 24, 2025
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I had seen Anil Kumble come out to bowl with a broken jaw in Antigua and didn't think I would see anything like that again. But this Rishabh Pant act of courage is right up there. Just Rishabh being Rishabh. #ENGvsIND pic.twitter.com/hpAcN0YG7c — Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) July 24, 2025
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If you aren't watching, pl do. Pant coming out to bat with a broken toe is probably the most courageous from an Indian cricketer after Kumble bowling in WI with a broken jaw.
Stokes aiming for that right toe, I suppose is how this unforgiving game is played…#INDvsENG — Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) July 24, 2025
I really have no words of appreciation for the guts pant has shown to bat after a broken foot... but the way he is limping and fighting his pain it may lead to some serious problems...I am also wondering how did the medical team allowed to play who actaully has a say in… — Samip Rajguru (@samiprajguru) July 24, 2025
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Ricky Ponting just called Rishabh Pant as "Lazarus" in commentary [which means the biblic figure whom Jesus raised from the dead] — Noah (@PantasticNoah) July 24, 2025
Vivek Razdan words on Rishabh pant's bravery 🔥🔥
Goosebumps at its peak @RishabhPant17 #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/SDqzQTMdCK — Harsh shekhawat (@wordofshekhawat) July 24, 2025
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Pant, who was batting on 37 when struck by the Woakes yorker on Wednesday, walked out to bat after all-rounder Shardul Thakur was dismissed for a patient 41 that helped India cross the 300-mark with plenty of wickets left.
Thakur, replacing the injured Nitish Reddy at Manchester, had forged a 48-run partnership with fellow all-rounder Washington Sundar after India had lost the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja in just the second over of the morning session.
The second act of Pant's innings, meanwhile, would help India reach the 350-mark. The Test vice-captain was eventually castled by Jofra Archer for 54 off 75 balls with India losing their ninth wicket for 349.
India were eventually bowled out for 358 with Jasprit Bumrah becoming the last Indian batter to fall after getting caught-behind off Jofra Archer's bowling. Captain Ben Stokes finished as the pick of the English bowlers with figures of 5/72 while Archer collected 3 for 73.
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Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson (1/45) and Chris Woakes (1/66) collected a wicket each, the former making his first Test appearance in eight years.
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