India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will miss the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy due to a toe fracture sustained during the fourth Test against England.
Pant suffered the injury after a toe-crushing yorker from England pacer Chris Woakes struck him on the right foot during the first innings. Despite the intense pain, Pant returned to bat and scored a gritty half-century on Day 2, showcasing immense courage and determination.
“Rishabh is out of the series, and what he did for the team was extraordinary,” Gambhir told reporters. “Batting with a broken foot—very few players in history have done that. The foundation of this team will be built on such character. Generations will remember his bravery.”
With Pant sidelined, Narayan Jagadeesan has been added to the squad as a replacement for the final Test at The Oval, beginning July 31. Jagadeesan has a strong domestic record, scoring 3,373 runs in 52 first-class matches at an average of 47.50, including 10 centuries.
Pant was one of India’s standout performers in the series, amassing 479 runs at an average of 68.42, including two centuries and three fifties, making him the third-highest run-scorer for India in the series.
Gambhir also advocated for a substitution rule for serious injuries in Test matches. “If the match referee and umpires see a major injury, a substitute should be allowed. Especially in a closely contested series like this one,” he said.
Meanwhile, the fourth Test at Old Trafford ended in a draw, thanks to brilliant centuries from Ravindra Jadeja (107*) and Washington Sundar in India’s second innings.
Brief Scores:
India 358 & 425/4 (Jadeja 107*, Gill 103, Woakes 2/67)
England 669 (Root 150, Stokes 141, Jadeja 4/143)
