England may have thought Rishabh Pant was out of the equation after his foot injury, but the gritty India star had other plans — and he made sure to remind everyone why he’s one of cricket’s fiercest fighters.
Pant Returns Limping, Delivers a Heroic Half-Century
After being forced to retire hurt on Day 1 of the Manchester Test due to a painful toe injury caused by a reverse sweep gone wrong, Rishabh Pant shocked many by walking back to the crease the next day. Limping and clearly in discomfort, he was met with a standing ovation as he replaced Shardul Thakur.
Resuming his innings on 37, Pant didn’t just survive — he fought back. He reached a gritty half-century, scoring 54 off 75 balls, all while battling intense pain. It was a moment of defiance that drew comparisons to Anil Kumble’s iconic broken-jaw spell from 2002.
Archer Goes for the Toe, Pant Hits Back with a Boundary
England pacers weren’t going easy. Both Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer targeted Pant’s injured foot, hoping to exploit his weakness. In one particular over, Archer delivered a near toe-crusher, only for Pant to respond by smacking the very next ball for four — a moment that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Eventually, Archer had the last laugh, crashing into Pant’s stumps to end the left-hander’s remarkable knock with India on 349-9. Archer finished with three wickets as England bowled India out for 358.
England Takes Control, But Pant Steals the Spotlight
Despite Pant’s resistance, England ended the day on top. Skipper Ben Stokes picked up his fifth wicket, removing Washington Sundar and Anshul Kamboj, while Archer cleaned up the tail. India’s innings folded soon after Pant’s dismissal, with Jasprit Bumrah caught off Archer for 4.
At tea, England were cruising at 77/0, with Ben Duckett (43*) and Zak Crawley (33*) giving the hosts a solid start in reply. England currently leads the five-match series 2-1 — but on Day 2, it was Pant’s courage that stole the spotlight.
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