Cliff Notes – Pant retires hurt after inside-edging a reverse sweep onto his right foot
- Rishabh Pant retired hurt on 37 after injuring his right foot while attempting a reverse sweep against Chris Woakes, leaving the field in visible pain.
- The injury marks Pant’s second in consecutive Test matches, with scans pending to determine the severity, potentially leaving India a batter short in the second innings.
Pant retires hurt after inside-edging a reverse sweep onto his right foot
Matt Roller
CloseMatt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets at @mroller98Jul 23, 2025, 06:19 PM
Rishabh Pant retired hurt on 37 in the fourth Test at Old Trafford after injuring his right foot while reverse-sweeping Chris Woakes.
Pant, India’s wicketkeeper and vice-captain, appeared to be in significant pain as he left the field on the back of a golf-style buggy following medical attention from India’s coaching staff. He sustained the injury when bottom-edging a ball into the outside of his right foot, which immediately swelled up and appeared to be heavily bruised by the time he left the playing area.
Pant went for scans immediately in the facility that is available at Old Trafford itself. Captain Shubman Gill also briefly went to see him. Results of the scans are awaited.
It is the second injury that Pant has sustained in as many Test matches, following a blow on his left index finger while keeping wicket in England’s first innings at Lord’s. Dhruv Jurel substituted as India’s wicketkeeper for the rest of that Test match. Although Pant was in discomfort while batting, he was cleared to play in Manchester.
His innings of 37 off 48 balls was largely restrained but featured several characteristically outrageous shots, including a slog sweep for four off Jofra Archer, followed by an unsuccessful reverse-sweep off the next ball. England appealed for lbw when Pant attempted the same shot off Woakes, but replays confirmed that he had got an inside edge into his right boot.
Pant was involved in a fourth-wicket partnership worth 72 with B Sai Sudharsan, who completed his maiden Test half-century shortly after Ravindra Jadeja replaced Pant in the middle.
If it turns out to be a fracture, it is highly likely that India will be a batter short in the second innings.