India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has checked into the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru to begin rehabilitation for his fractured right foot. The injury was sustained during the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, in July.
From Injury to Recovery
Pant fractured the fifth metatarsal on his right foot after inside-edging a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes on day one of the Test. The blow forced him to retire hurt at 37, but in a display of grit, he returned the next day—arriving at the ground in a moonboot—and went on to score a crucial 54.
Since returning from the UK, Pant has consulted several specialists, including Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala in Mumbai, who also operated on his right knee after his 2022 car accident. With the cast now removed, Pant is reportedly walking freely without a limp.
BCCI’s Medical Plan
According to IANS, Pant’s travel to Bengaluru was a last-minute call, and the CoE medical team will assess his condition on Tuesday. Their evaluation will decide the structure of his rehab program and gauge his availability for the upcoming two-Test series against the West Indies, starting October 2 in Ahmedabad and October 10 in New Delhi.
What’s at Stake for Team India
Pant, India’s vice-captain in Tests, was outstanding in the England series, scoring 479 runs in seven innings at an average of 68.42, including two centuries. His availability will be crucial for India’s balance in the middle order.
If he fails to recover in time, Dhruv Jurel and N Jagadeesan are the front-runners to take the wicketkeeper-batter role in the West Indies Tests.
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