A Reputation for the Extraordinary
Rishabh Pant has made a habit of stunning cricket fans with his audacity at the crease. Whether it was his valiant 74 at Lord’s last week while nursing a Jeetbuzz finger injury or his iconic 97 at the SCG in 2021 with a bruised elbow, Pant has proven he’s no stranger to pain or pressure.
But what unfolded in Manchester might just be his most heroic act yet.
A Fracture, A Comeback, A Statement
On Wednesday, Pant attempted a reverse-sweep off a pacer, only to under-edge the ball onto his own foot. The result: a fractured bone and immediate pain. Most would’ve called it a day—possibly a series. Not Pant. He returned to the field the very next day, visibly limping, to complete a half-century that might go down as one of the most courageous in Test history.
At 12:28 PM, India were 314 for 6 when Pant began his slow descent from the dressing room. He hadn’t even arrived at the ground with his teammates that morning—instead, he was at the hospital undergoing scans. He came back strapped in a moon boot, leaning on a crutch. The crowd at Old Trafford stood in disbelief. Was he really going to bat again?
Yes, he was.
Defying Pain, Delivering Runs
Pant resumed his innings on 37, seemingly unfazed by the swelling or the fracture. The risks were real—another hit could have aggravated the injury. One Jeetwin delivery even kicked up unexpectedly and struck his pad. Only then did he begin adjusting his footwork, having ignored the pain until that moment.
“We knew he was hurting,” said Shardul Thakur after the day’s play. “Credit to the medical team, and huge respect to Rishabh. To walk back out there and contribute vital runs in such pain—it speaks volumes.”
A Battle Against England—and His Own Body
Pant couldn’t place any weight on his right foot, yet he hobbled through 14 singles, often running for both himself and his partner. England, sensing weakness, bowled wide lines and menacing inswingers. But Pant stayed resolute. He countered with a signature lofted six off Archer—his 90th in Test cricket, tying Virender Sehwag’s record. Then came a sublime cover drive off Stokes that brought up his half-century.
Eventually, it took a peach from Archer—a ball that angled in and straightened past the bat—to dismiss him. Pant was bowled for 54 off 75 balls, with 17 of those runs scored post-injury. As he limped off at 2:08 PM, the crowd gave him a standing ovation, and even England’s Joe Root and Brydon Carse offered their respect.
A Display of True Passion and Grit
Thakur summed it up perfectly: “We’ve seen players bat through injuries before—Graeme Smith comes to mind—but Rishabh’s spirit, his positivity, it keeps him above the pain. What he did today was nothing short of inspirational.”
The final outcome of the Manchester Test remains uncertain. Whether Pant will bat again is also unknown. But one thing is crystal clear: if this was his last contribution of the series, it was more than enough.
