Rishabh Pant out of England series with fractured toe

Public Lokpal
July 24, 2025

MANCHESTER: India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was on Thursday ruled out of the ongoing Test series against England after fracturing his toe on the opening day of the fourth Test here, compounding the visiting side's injury woes.

The 27-year-old Pant retired hurt at 37 and went for scans after copping a blow on his right foot while attempting a reverse sweep off England pacer Chris Woakes on Wednesday.

"He is ruled out for the next six weeks. Ishan Kishan will be called in as cover," a BCCI source told PTI.

Despite the possibility floated by his camp, team sources later confirmed there was “just no chance” of Pant returning to bat in the match.

Pant remains with the squad but is reportedly unable to put any weight on the injured foot. He will be sidelined for up to two months, which makes him unavailable for India’s immediate international commitments, including the potential white-ball series in Sri Lanka and the Asia Cup, if they go ahead as scheduled.

In his absence, Dhruv Jurel will take over the wicketkeeping duties but, under ICC rules, will not be permitted to bat. This means India will field only ten recognised batters for the remainder of the Test, placing added pressure on the middle and lower order.

Pant’s injury compounds India’s growing list of fitness issues in the series. Fast bowlers Akash Deep (groin), Arshdeep Singh (finger), and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy have all been ruled out at various stages. Akash and Arshdeep were deemed unfit for the Manchester Test, paving the way for Anshul Kamboj’s debut.

Pant had already been nursing an injury during the third Test at Lord’s, where he clipped the nail off his index finger while keeping wickets. His absence was felt in Manchester as well, where Ravindra Jadeja took his place at the crease following his retirement hurt. India finished Day 1 on 264/4 with Jadeja and Shardul Thakur at the crease.

Captain Shubman Gill, visibly concerned, visited Pant in the medical room shortly after the incident. The 27-year-old’s absence is a massive blow to India's hopes of levelling the series, which England currently lead 2–1. Pant had struck two centuries in the series opener at Headingley and a fighting 74 in the Lord’s Test despite being hit on the hand.

The setback is especially cruel given Pant’s heroic return to international cricket last year. After surviving a life-threatening car crash, the left-hander made a determined comeback, first through the IPL with Delhi Capitals, then in India’s T20 World Cup squad, and finally in the Bangladesh Test series in September 2024.

Input with PTI