India suffered a worrying blow on the opening day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, as wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was forced to leave the field after being struck painfully on his right foot.
Late on Wednesday (July 23), the BCCI issued a medical update confirming that Pant had been taken for scans and that the medical team is closely monitoring his condition.
"Rishabh Pant was hit on his right foot while batting on Day 1 of the Manchester Test. He was taken for scans from the stadium. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress," read the BCCI update.
The incident unfolded during the final session when Pant attempted one of his signature no-look reverse sweeps to a sharp yorker from Chris Woakes. He failed to connect cleanly, and the ball crashed into his foot just below the toe.
Pant was immediately in visible discomfort, prompting the Indian physios to rush onto the field. After a brief assessment, he was helped onto a buggy ambulance and taken for further examination.
Broadcast visuals later showed noticeable swelling and even signs of a minor cut on the affected area, raising questions over Pant’s availability for the rest of the Test. His departure also ended a promising 72-run stand with Sai Sudharsan, who had steadied the Indian innings alongside him.
This is the second injury scare for Pant in the series. During the Lord’s Test, he suffered a finger injury while keeping wickets and had to be replaced behind the stumps. However, he showed resilience by coming out to bat later and playing a vital role in taking the match into the final day.
