With four full days remaining in the Manchester Test, India risk being reduced to 10 batters after Rishabh Pant suffered a right foot injury on Day 1. The extent of the injury is yet to be confirmed, but early signs suggest it could be serious enough to end his England tour. Former cricketers including Ravi Shastri, Ricky Ponting, and Michael Atherton have expressed concern over Pant’s condition.
India, trailing 1-2 in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, desperately need to level the series. Pant, having scored two centuries and two fifties so far, has been their standout batter. If ruled out, his absence could seriously dent India’s chances.
The situation has reignited the debate around allowing injury substitutes in Test cricket.
Michael Vaughan, speaking on Test Match Special, argued for a rule change:
“I don’t like that we’ve got four days left in what has been an incredible series, and it’s 10 vs 11. I’ve always supported having substitutions for obvious injuries – a broken foot, a ruptured calf – something clear and serious. It’s time we rethink.”
He added that such a rule could be limited to first innings to prevent misuse.
However, former captain Alastair Cook raised concerns about potential grey areas:
“What if it’s just a bruise? Say Pant’s X-ray shows nothing broken, just discomfort. Does that qualify? It’s tricky – where do you draw the line?”
As India await a medical update on Pant, the issue has brought renewed focus on player safety and squad depth in long-format cricket.
