Rishabh Pant braved the pain and decided to come out to bat for India on Day 2 of the Manchester Test against England, despite having a fractured foot.
The wicketkeeper-batter suffered the injury during the first day’s play when he tried to reverse Chris Woakes and was hit right on the boot.
Pant was grimacing in pain and had to be carried off the field on a golf cart. The Indian vice-captain was batting on 37 when he got injured and had to leave the field.
The visitors lost Shardul Thakur for 41 in the first session on Day 2, which led to Pant’s arrival in the middle. The southpaw hobbled his way down the pavilion to enter field amidst a loud cheer from the crowd at Old Trafford.
Earlier on Thursday (July 24), BCCI shared on social media that while Rishabh Pant won't don the keeping gloves for the rest of the game, he will come to bat according to the team's requirements.
"Rishabh Pant, who sustained an injury to his right foot on Day 1 of the Manchester Test, will not be performing wicket-keeping duties for the remainder of the match. Dhruv Jurel will assume the role of wicket-keeper. Despite his injury, Rishabh Pant has joined the team on Day 2 and will be available to bat as per team requirements," read the statement from BCCI.
Pant went on to score 54 off 75 balls before being dismissed by Jofra Archer. His knock, featuring three boundaries and two sixes, propelled the tourists to 358/10 in the first innings.
For his courageous half-century, Rishabh Pant earned rich praise from the cricket fraternity on social media on social media platform X.
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