India head coach Gautam Gambhir praised Rishabh Pant for his steely half-century despite a damaged foot, stating that he has "inspired the next generation and created a legacy for himself" through his resilience, fearlessness, and prioritizing the team.
Due to a foot ailment, Pant must reluctantly withdraw from the current Test series against England. Narayan Jagadeesan of Tamil Nadu will take his place. Pant attempted to reverse sweep a full delivery but was struck flush on the right foot by a Chris Woakes yorker, breaking his foot.
Despite his injury, Pant managed to score 54 runs as he returned to the crease, and his contribution took India to a first innings total of 358 runs.
Gambhir praised the courage shown by Pant to bat despite a foot fracture in a rousing speech in the dressing room, as India managed to draw the fourth Test in Manchester.
"The foundation of this test team will be based on what Rishabh has done for the team. I hate talking about individuals; I have never spoken about individuals in a team sport. You have not only inspired this dressing room, but you have also inspired the next generation.
This is what you have done, and that is a legacy that you have created for yourself and everyone in this dressing room. So very, very well done from everyone. And the country will always be proud of you,” Gambhir stated in a video shared by BCCI.
Pant said that his move to bat was a gesture from his side to do whatever it takes to make his team win, and he was not thinking about any personal goals.
"It has been amazing the way they have backed me. The team is under pressure; everything is there, but when the whole country stands behind you for the same cause, that is something; that emotion is difficult to explain. How proud I feel to represent my country. The only message I am going to give my team is, let us win it, guys. Let us do it for the country," he added.
All-rounder Washington Sundar also noted how swollen Pant's foot was and called him a "son of the country."
"It is very difficult to even put the feeling that he would be going through in words because he has fractured his toe, and he is in pain no matter what. I even saw his foot; it was swollen badly. So I think for him to even walk around actually takes a lot, but he did a lot more than that. I think the whole country is proud of him, and he is just the son of a country, I would say," he added.
Here is the video:
Pant finished the series as the second-highest run-getter currently, with 479 runs in four matches and seven innings at an average of 68.42, with two centuries and three fifties, and runs scored at a strike rate of over 77. His best score was 134, and he hit twin centuries in the Leeds Test, becoming the first Indian keeper to do so.
