‘he Was In A Lot Of Pain’: Pant’s Foot Injury Leaves India Sweating On Scan Results

India are sweating complete nan fittingness of Rishabh Pant aft nan wicketkeeper retired wounded pinch a achy ft wounded connected nan opening time of nan 4th Test against England.

Pant was connected 37 erstwhile he attempted an audacious – moreover by his lofty standards – reverse-sweep to a afloat Chris Woakes delivery, nan shot slamming his correct footwear via an wrong edge. While England unsuccessfully reviewed successful nan dream of an lbw, Pant was still forced to time off nan section connected nan backmost of a play cart.

“He was successful a lot of pain,” said Sai Sudharsan, who was astatine nan different extremity and top-scored for India pinch 61, his maiden Test half-century, arsenic they closed connected 264 for 4 aft Ben Stokes won nan toss. “They’ve gone for scans. We’ll get to cognize overnight, astir apt get nan accusation tomorrow.”

“I dream he’s each right,” England’s Liam Dawson said. “He’s evidently a very bully player. I astir apt can’t spot him taking overmuch much portion successful this game.” Pant arrived successful Manchester pinch his fittingness nether attraction aft a digit injury, sustained while keeping connected nan opening time astatine Lord’s, hampered him for nan remainder of that Test. Another wounded is simply a important rustle to nan visitors, pinch Pant nan second-highest run-scorer successful nan series.

Dawson managed to flight immoderate superior reward disconnected Pant arsenic he enjoyed a coagulated return to Test cricket, 8 years connected from his past quality successful nan format. The left-arm spinner took conscionable 7 balls to find nan extracurricular separator of Yashasvi Jaiswal for 58, Harry Brook gobbling up astatine slip. The 35-year-old vanished pinch tidy figures of 1 for 45 disconnected 15 overs.

“I was conscionable trying to vessel my champion ball,” Dawson said. “Just onshore it successful nan area arsenic galore times arsenic you can. Thankfully, it sewage a small spot of drift and he nicked it.

“I’ve said to a fewer group that astatine nan property that I’m at, I astir apt thought Test cricket was gone. To beryllium backmost progressive is really cool and I’ve sewage to effort and bask each time that I get. It’s conscionable 1 wicket. I’ve done thing typical there. It’s 1 wicket but it’s different large time tomorrow.”

On really he has changed arsenic a bowler since his first stint successful nan Test side, Dawson said: “I’m astir apt a small much consistent, understand pitches a small better. The older you get, you study really to negociate crippled scenarios.”

Reminded that he took 10 wickets and deed a period astatine Old Trafford successful an innings triumph for Hampshire past year, Dawson replied: “Do you cognize what? I wholly forgot astir that.”

Sudharsan enjoyed his comeback too, moreover if his absence was brief. After making his debut astatine 3 successful nan first Test astatine Headingley – returning a duck and second-innings 30 – nan 23-year-old was near retired of nan pursuing 2 matches arsenic India opted for an other all-rounder. However, nan southpaw returned to first driblet successful spot of Karun Nair and hung connected for 151 deliveries. Given nan short-ball treatment, he yet perished to Stokes, a miscued propulsion uncovering Brydon Carse astatine agelong leg. The situation was still welcomed.

“It was really a really enjoyable experience, to beryllium honest,” said Sudharsan. “Because 1 of nan champion bowlers successful nan state is steaming successful and trying to deed you hard. And you being location and giving your champion for nan team. That’s 1 of nan champion feelings you tin have.

“Playing against England connected their location soil, you person to beryllium fresh for that fierce nature. I enjoyed it.”