Ind vs Eng 4th Test: Major tournaments in jeopardy as Rishabh Pant faces lengthy recovery

Rishabh Pant (Pic: AFP)

The opening day of the ongoing fourth Test at Old Trafford proved ill-fated for India's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who suffered a fractured toe after being struck by a delivery from Chris Woakes. The fuller-length ball was miscued by Pant, and it ricocheted off his bat onto his right foot, forcing him to leave the field immediately in visible discomfort.

Though Pant bravely returned to bat on Day 2, scoring a gritty half-century, his movements were restricted, and signs of pain were evident throughout his stay at the crease. With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yet to release an official timeline for his recovery, multiple reports suggest Pant is likely to be out of action for six to eight weeks.

If the projected layoff holds true, the star keeper-batter could miss several important assignments, both domestic and international.

5th Test vs England, The Oval: With Dhruv Jurel already keeping wickets in Manchester, it has been confirmed that Pant will not feature in the fifth and final Test at The Oval. His absence is a major blow for India, given that he was the team's second-highest run-scorer in the series and a key presence in the middle order.

Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025: The second edition of the Delhi Premier League is scheduled to run from August 2 to August 31, and Pant was set to play for Purani Dilli 6. However, the foot injury now rules him out of the tournament entirely. The franchise will likely be forced to scout for a replacement as they head into the competition without their marquee player.

Possible India fixtures in August: India were originally scheduled to tour Bangladesh for a white-ball series in August, but due to political unrest, the tour has been deferred to next year. Currently, there are no confirmed matches for India in August. However, Sri Lanka Cricket is reportedly in discussions with the BCCI to organize a white-ball series during that window. Should the tour materialise, Pant would also miss that opportunity, assuming he hasn't recovered in time.

Pant's absence, particularly in a key phase of preparation leading up to future international fixtures, will be a concern for team management.