Fear of Fracture Hangs Over Rishabh Pant Following Shock Injury in Manchester Test

Rishabh Pant's comeback to global cricket had been one of the most thrilling tales of Indian cricket in recent times but his sudden injury during the fourth Test at Manchester has raised great concerns. During batting on the opening day of the match Pant was badly injured after inside-edging a reverse sweep off a ball bowled by Chris Woakes. The ball hit him sharply on his right foot and the blow was so painful that he had to go off the field straight away. The swelling was evident immediately and upon having his shoe taken off the medical staff saw a large bruise on the foot which led to concern over a potential metatarsal fracture.

Pant was on 37 at the time and playing his aggressive style of play pinning England back. But the injury cut his innings short and his physical fitness soon became a greater concern for Team India than his score. He was removed from the field on a golf cart indicating genuine pain something that even people knowing him well were surprised at for his high pain tolerance. Former India coach Ravi Shastri, who was commentary during the game, said that just seeing the look on Pant's face told him how bad the injury was. Shastri added that Rishabh is not that sort of player who easily displays pain so seeing him grimacing like that meant that something was wrong.

Despite the initial treatment of ice and rest, the worry persisted. Shastri explained that such a blow would usually worsen overnight and only in the morning would it be apparent just how much damage had occurred. All the players wished it was neither a crack nor a break but nothing could be confirmed immediately.

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting who has operated closely with Pant in the IPL for Delhi Capitals also shared his views stating the situation seemed unfavorable. He stated Pant could hardly place his foot on the ground and had to roll on the ground for nearly ten minutes before being removed. Ponting mentioned that the swelling looked similar to his own past metatarsal injury and these small bones can be terribly tricky. If it's fractured Pant might be out for not only this game but possibly the whole series which would be a huge blow to India.

Ponting also mentioned that what India would lose the most is the energy and momentum that Pant contributes to the game. His capability of completely changing the tempo of a game at times and placing pressure on the opposition makes him an extremely special player. In as close a series as this where the two sides are scrapping for every session losing a player like Pant could be the difference between winning and losing.

Former England captain Michael Atherton also had his say on the injury stating that it clearly appeared serious. He added that to be withdrawn from the field in such a manner is not usual unless the injury is indeed serious. In his opinion if Pant cannot resume batting then the match scenario becomes different altogether. India was 264 for four when he was injured and his loss may change the balance in favor of England particularly with the new ball available. Atherton described how although there is still doubt surrounding the injury it is apparent that this is more than a minor knock and it may influence the result of both this game and the rest of the series.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI also admitted the injury and said that Pant was hit on the right foot and had to retire hurt because of the impact of the blow. Medical staff are keeping a check on his progress and subsequent scans and reports would decide the way ahead. At the moment fans and fellow players alike are left hoping that the injury is not worse than it seems and that Pant will get better in a hurry.

The lack of Pant may create a severe void in the Indian middle order. His aggressive batting and shot-making tend to change the momentum in India's direction and no one in the present team really fits his pattern. The team will need to reboot their game plan if Pant is out and players such as Shardul Thakur who replaced him will have to shoulder more responsibility.

The timing of the injury is also annoying for the fans because Pant had just come back to international cricket after being away for so long due to a car accident. His return had infused hope energy and enthusiasm and his appearance on the field had given the team's morale a boost. This fresh injury particularly one that might be a bone fracture is a vicious setback for a player who had already braved so much in the previous year.

All experts are in unison that the next 24 hours will be important. If it's a minor complaint with swelling then maybe with taping and analgesics Pant could come back later in the game. But if it's a fracture of the metatarsal then healing would take weeks or even months. In that scenario his involvement in the remainder of the series would be out of question and even future tournaments could be at risk.

For the time being Indian fans around the globe are keeping their fingers crossed praying that their beloved wicket-keeper batsman comes back again. The Test series is finely poised and having a player like Pant in the ranks might prove to be a game-changer. Whether or not he plays again in this match only time will say but one thing for sure — Rishabh Pant's guts and contribution are already being missed on the field.