Rishabh Pant has come under criticism for poor shot choice that resulted in a serious foot injury on the first day of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester.
When batting at 37 from 48 balls, Pant had tried a reverse sweep off pacer Chris, who delivered a well-directed yorker. The ball hit Pant's right toe as he missed the shot completely, with swelling and bleeding happening on the spot.
Never one to give up, Pant resumed batting the next day and scored a gritty half-century before being bowled by Jofra Archer. The injury, however, kept him from wicketkeeping responsibilities for the second Test in a row. During the third Test at Lord's, he had injured his finger and was kept out of the game as keeper too, with Dhruv Jurel replacing him both times. While Pant recovered in time to feature at Manchester, his recent injury now jeopardizes his participation in the fifth Test.
Former England skipper Geoffrey Boycott was especially tough on the way Pant played at the crease, attributing the batter's poor shot choice to his injury. On The Telegraph Podcast, Boycott said, "It is sad that a player gets injured and compromises his capacity to play a role in the game, particularly a player of his talent. But he has only himself to blame.
India, who were poised to post an intimidating total, were left in a difficult position after Pant's injury and were bowled out for 358. England reacted strongly with 544/7, securing the game firmly in their favor.
Boycott continued, "They were sensibly in charge, orthodox batting - there was no necessity to attempt something ridiculous. Rishabh attempts incredible shots. When they work, people are amazed and applaud him, and that is the beauty of his batting. But when they don't, it can seem daft."
He went on, "India were constructing a dominant position. Some would say that's just his way, but if he doesn't bat in both innings, it could lose India the game. He's that vital."
Pant's bad luck has brought back debate about introducing like-for-like player replacements in Test cricket. Former England batsman David Lloyd commented on the issue on a TalkSport Cricket show.
“I’m probably against runners, but I’m in favour of substitutes for external injuries. It does open a can of worms, but if it’s a break and medically he’s out for six weeks, then maybe a like-for-like replacement is worth considering. Not something like replacing a batter with a spinner, though,” said Lloyd.
While India wait for news on Pant's status, the selectors and team management are in a spot of bother leading up to the series decider.
Read also| Root's 150 and Stokes' Unbeaten 77 Power England to 186-Run Lead Over India in 4th Test
