India’s key wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has suffered a major injury that will keep him out of action for six weeks.He fractured his right foot during the fourth Test match against England in Manchester.
The injury happened when Pant tried to play a reverse sweep and was hit on the foot by a fast yorker from England’s Chris Woakes. The hit caused swelling and pain, and scans confirmed a fracture in his foot.
Even after getting hurt, Pant showed great courage and kept batting. He scored 54 runs but eventually had to retire hurt. Because of this injury, Pant missed the important fifth Test match at The Oval. The BCCI officially ruled him out of that game, and Narayan Jagadeesan was called to take his place as wicketkeeper.
Doctors say Pant needs to rest and recover for at least six to eight weeks. This means he will also miss some major upcoming cricket events. One of them is the Asia Cup 2025, which will be held from September 9 to 28 in the UAE, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. India will play against UAE, Pakistan, and Oman in this tournament.
After the Asia Cup, India’s home Test series against the West Indies in early October will also likely be without Pant because of his recovery time.
This injury is not only bad news for Pant but also for the Indian team, as he was in excellent form during the England series. He scored 479 runs with an average of 68.42 and a healthy strike rate of about 80.
Experts have pointed out that foot fractures like this can be tricky and need careful treatment.
Pant will avoid surgery unless there is a problem, and his recovery will focus on rest, pain relief, and slow rehabilitation.
With Pant sidelined, other wicketkeepers like Dhruv Jurel and Narayan Jagadeesan may get the chance to play in upcoming matches. The BCCI’s doctors will carefully monitor Pant’s recovery and are hopeful that he will get better very soon.
In short, because of his foot injury during the Manchester Test, Rishabh Pant will not be able to play in the Asia Cup 2025 or the Test matches against the West Indies. He now faces a crucial six-week break to get back to full fitness and return stronger for India’s future matches.