Injury Blow: Rishabh Pant Ruled Out of Fourth Test After Toe Fracture

Pant retires hurt on 37; Ishan Kishan likely to be called in as India scramble to regroup for final Test at The Oval

Manchester : India’s hopes of staging a comeback in the fourth Test against England suffered a massive blow as star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the ongoing match due to a toe fracture sustained on the opening day.

Pant was struck on the right toe by a delivery from England seamer Chris Woakes during the final session of play. The ball, which took an inside edge, struck Pant’s boot while he attempted a premeditated reverse sweep in the 68th over. Immediately in pain, he was seen grimacing and unable to put weight on his foot. Swelling the size of a table tennis ball and signs of bleeding prompted immediate medical attention, and Pant had to be taken off the field in a golf-cart-style ambulance buggy. He retired hurt on 37 off 48 balls, having stitched a 72-run partnership with B. Sai Sudharsan.

Post-play, Sudharsan confirmed the seriousness of the injury, stating, “He was in a lot of pain. The medical team has taken him for scans, and we hope to know more by tomorrow. He was batting really well, and this will definitely impact the team.”

With Pant expected to be out for six weeks, reports suggest Ishan Kishan will be called in as a backup wicketkeeper for the fifth and final Test at The Oval, London.

Despite Pant’s exit, India ended Day 1 at 264/4, with Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur unbeaten on identical scores of 19. Sudharsan also commented on the pitch, suggesting the bounce was uneven, particularly from the pavilion end, and it could play a role in the coming days.

The Indian team, already facing pressure in the series, will now need to rework their strategy without one of their most explosive middle-order batters. With the Oval Test approaching, the management faces the dual challenge of managing team morale and replacing a key player under high-stakes conditions.