Blood, swelling & tears: Watch Rishabh Pant leave field in agony after gruesome foot injury during England Test

India’s fourth Test against England took a distressing turn on the opening day as wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was forced off the field after sustaining a serious injury to his right foot.

The incident unfolded during a reverse sweep attempt against Chris Woakes, where Pant misjudged the ball and was struck cleanly on the boot. Though he narrowly avoided an LBW decision thanks to a feather-light edge, the blow left him visibly crippled.

What followed was a harrowing sight.


Broadcast cameras zoomed in to reveal blood seeping through Pant’s shoe, his foot swollen and throbbing. India’s team physio Yogesh Parmar rushed to the crease, but Pant, clearly in agony, couldn’t resume. Moments later, a medical buggy drove onto the ground, and he was escorted off amid a hushed, concerned crowd.

Immediate fallout

Pant was promptly taken to a nearby hospital for further tests. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later confirmed the nature of the incident, stating that he had been struck on the right foot and that their medical team was monitoring him closely.


The expression on Pant’s face as he limped off said more than any official report could. The incident interrupted a crucial phase of India's innings — he had begun to look settled, crafting a fluent 37 off 48 balls alongside Sai Sudharsan, who was offering a calm, composed presence at the other end.

Concern echoes across camps

The mood in the Indian dressing room was visibly deflated. Sai Sudharsan, speaking after stumps, noted the seriousness of the injury, according to a TOI report.

“He was really struggling with the pain. The scans will tell us more, but we might have to adjust quickly if he’s unavailable going forward,” he said.

From the England camp, all-rounder Liam Dawson also commented on the worrying nature of the injury. “Regardless of teams, no one likes to see that. From where we were standing, it didn’t look like he’d be back in action any time soon,” he remarked during the post-day briefing.

Game Situation: A promising start derails

India, after electing to bat first, had laid down a strong foundation. The opening stand between KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal yielded 94 runs and navigated the early movement well.

Jaiswal’s aggressive strokeplay complemented Rahul’s cautious approach, and the pair kept England’s bowlers at bay through the morning.


However, things began to shift after lunch. The return of cloud cover favoured swing, and wickets fell in quick succession. Jaiswal and Rahul both departed, followed by a short-lived innings from Shubman Gill, who managed just 12.

Pant’s injury came just as he and Sudharsan had started rebuilding. The duo had steadied the innings, with Sudharsan grinding out a well-earned 61. But his resistance ended when Ben Stokes forced a miscued pull shot, handing England another breakthrough.

Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur then navigated the final hour cautiously, guiding India to a respectable 264 for 4 at close of play — though the uncertainty around Pant lingered heavily.

What lies ahead

This isn’t the first time Pant’s body has taken a hit this series — a finger injury at Lord’s had already placed his availability in doubt. With fresh damage to his foot and no clarity yet on his condition, India could be forced to rethink their plans.


If Pant is ruled out, Dhruv Jurel may once again step into the wicketkeeping role. But Pant’s dual role — as a gloveman and a counterattacking middle-order batter — is tough to replicate. His absence would deal a significant blow to the team’s balance and depth.

As Day 2 approaches, all eyes will be on the medical updates. India will hope the scans bring good news, but the visual evidence so far suggests they may need to brace for a longer-term setback.