Rishabh Pant’s Grit: A Tale of Pain, Passion, and Patriotism
Dr. Ashutosh Chaudhary, a leading orthopedic surgeon, offered a sobering medical perspective: “If it’s a fracture of the 5th metatarsal, it can take 5–8 weeks to heal, and another 1–2 months to regain strength and resume active cricket. Playing now means he’s likely in a cast or walker boot off the field"
On a rain-threatened morning at Old Trafford, Manchester, the crowd rose in a wave of applause—not for a century, not for a wicket—but for a man limping down the pavilion stairs. Rishabh Pant, India’s vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batter, had fractured his toe the previous day while attempting a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes. Swelling, and scans confirmed the worst: a fracture of the fifth metatarsal. Yet, against medical odds and cricketing convention, Pant padded up and walked out to bat.
Expert Voices on Pant’s Brave Decision
Prasanth Panchada, renowned physio for international and IPL teams, summed it up with admiration: “Many players put their bodies on the line for the team, and what Rishabh has done is truly commendable. On a lighter note, Rishabh has battled even more serious injuries before...”
He likened Pant’s courage to Rohit Sharma’s broken-finger innings, Ajinkya Rahane’s stitched-handed catch, and of course, Anil Kumble’s legendary spell through pain.
Ramji Srinivasan, former Team India trainer, was more poetic:“Absolute courage and full kudos to his brave heart... It’s like a soldier being injured and fighting back for the country. Pant has to be lauded.”
Dr. Ashutosh Chaudhary, a leading orthopedic surgeon, offered a sobering medical perspective: “If it’s a fracture of the 5th metatarsal, it can take 5–8 weeks to heal, and another 1–2 months to regain strength and resume active cricket. Playing now means he’s likely in a cast or walker boot off the field.”
Pant’s decision wasn’t just brave—it was medically defiant.
The Injury and the Comeback
Pant had retired hurt on 37, visibly grimacing and unable to bear weight on his foot. But on Day 2, he returned to the crease, scoring a gritty 54 while hobbling between wickets. The crowd roared. Commentators compared it to Anil Kumble’s broken-jaw spell in Antigua, 2002.
Echoes of Legends: Kumble and Marshall
- Anil Kumble, in 2002, was struck by a bouncer from Mervyn Dillon. With a fractured jaw and a bandaged face, he bowled 14 overs and dismissed Brian Lara.
- Malcolm Marshall, in 1984, broke his thumb while fielding. He batted one-handed to help Larry Gomes reach a century, then took 7/53 to win the match for West Indies. Pant’s act now joins this pantheon of cricket’s toughest heroes.
More Than a Game
Pant’s innings wasn’t just about runs—it was about resolve. It was a message to teammates, fans, and critics: that cricket, at its core, is a test of character.
As Ramji Srinivasan aptly said: “Sport is not for faint hearts and armchair critics.”
And as Pant limped back to the pavilion, the applause wasn’t just for a half-century—it was for a warrior who chose pain over comfort, country over caution.
