Report | Rishabh Pant unfit to keep in Old Trafford after scans reveal foot fracture

Pant was at his funky best on Thursday during his knock of 37 off 48 deliveries, laced with two boundaries and a maximum. The veteran was involved in an intense battle with Jofra Archer as he tried to tackle the raw pace with unorthodox shots, a strategy he continued to employ against the much slower Chris Woakes. However, on the fourth ball of the 68th over during the final session, Pant failed to connect with an expansive reverse sweep against England's most experienced pacer and was struck square on the right-foot. Even as the hosts went up for an LBW appeal and lost a review, Pant remained on the deck writhing in pain with ultra-edge revealing the batter had got an inside edge as well to worsen the blow. The foot had immediately swelled up with a significant laceration below his toes, and despite extensive attention from physios Pant was forced to go off on a medical cart.  

Pant was already in doubt for the encounter after suffering a finger injury in the previous Test that had kept him from keeping in the second innings at Lord's. Dhruv Jurel was called on from the bench as a substitute fielder and the youngster will need to be called up again to perform a similar role when the hosts walk out to bat. The 24-year-old has already played four Tests for India since his debut at home against England in early 2024 and is primed to replace Pant in the line-up for the fifth Test at The Oval. Ishan Kishan is the front-runner to fill in as the back-up keeper, given his presence in the India A games against England Lions that preceded the Test series.