Rishabh Pant had retired hurt on the first day of the ongoing Test match at Old Trafford. He has now been advised six weeks of rest due to a fractured foot, which has effectively ruled him out of this Test match.
India, 94-0 at one point, had slipped to 140-3 in the second session after Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to field at Manchester. Sai Sudharsan (61) and Pant then added 72 to take them to relative safety.
At this point, Pant tried to reverse-sweep a slower ball from Chris Woakes, and went down in pain immediately. Stokes reviewed, but replays revealed a faint inside edge before the ball had hit Pant on the foot.
The medical team rushed out, and the umpires called for drinks. Pant then left the ground on a golf cart and left immediately for scans. Until that point, he had made 37 in 48 balls with two fours and a six.
India went to stumps at 264-4 with Ravindra Jadeja and the curiously promoted Shardul Thakur on 19 runs each. The buzz around an update on Pant’s injury remained.
An ESPNcricinfo report ahead of the second day’s play mentioned a fractured foot. As per an Indian Express report, the doctors have advised him rest for six weeks. That effectively rules him out of the fifth Test match, to be played at The Oval from July 31.
The latter report also mentions that Ishan Kishan will be added to the squad for the Oval Test. Kishan has been in fine form in this summer’s County Championship, making 87 and 77 in his two innings for Nottinghamshire and effecting five dismissals (and even bowling an over).
Can India replace Pant for the ongoing Test match?
Yes and no. Dhruv Jurel had kept wicket for Pant when the latter had injured his hand during the Lord’s Test match, a role he is likely to reprise at Old Trafford.
This will be in accordance with Law 24.1 (The umpires shall allow a substitute fielder if they are satisfied that a fielder has been injured or become ill and that this occurred during the match, or for any other wholly acceptable reason ... A substitute shall not bowl or act as captain but may act as wicket-keeper only with the consent of the umpires).
However, the Law does not have any provision for batting substitutes. Some tournaments allow full substitutes like the IPL Impact Player. The ICC Playing Conditions do allow full substitutes for concussed cricketers but not for any other form of injury.
Thus, if Pant does not bat (which is very likely), both Indian innings will close nine wickets down.
