Sachin lauds Pant’s grit as he bats with fractured foot for India

The sight of Rishabh Pant limping down the stairs of the Old Trafford cricket stadium in Manchester is one that will stand the test of time.

After copping a blow to his right toe yesterday, the BCCI, almost 24 hours later, confirmed that Pant had sustained a fracture in his toe. Now, when the injury is as serious as a fracture - albeit a hairline crack - even the slightest of movements becomes a herculean task. Hence, when play resumed on Day 2, no one in their wildest imagination would have expected Pant to take the field, irrespective of how bad a situation India found themselves in.

And still, when Shardul Thakur was dismissed out caught at slips for a well-compiled 41 off 88 balls, the Manchester faithful erupted in cheers. Not because an Indian wicket had fallen, but because Pant, on one leg, made his way into the field. The BCCI had also informed that his participation will be based on the team's requirement, and truth be told, with the series on the line and six wickets down, India needed Pant, at whatever percentage he was operating.

History will always remember this epic bravado from Pant. After consuming painkillers and taking injections to his toe, Pant brought back memories of Antigua 2002, when Anil Kumble, with a broken jaw, bowled 14 consecutive overs and dismissed the dangerous Brian Lara. Fast forward to 2025, and what Pant did here was no kid stuff. It takes a man with the heart of a lion to conjure up the kind of courage Pant did, as he batted through pain to bring up a half-century.