Boria Majumdar in Manchester
Rishabh Pant’s injury was one of the most unfortunate moments of day 1 in Manchester. In fact, it could well be one of the most inopportune moments of the entire series. And the truth is, it was a freakish injury. An external injury which could well rule out a key player out of the series. And in doing so, hand England a huge advantage in this match. This is where the rules should be revisited. If the ICC can allow a substitute for concussion, why is it that they won’t allow a substitute for an external injury like this?
This isn’t a hamstring pull or a muscle injury. Rather, it is something way more serious that very rarely happens on the field. That’s why there should be a provision to allow a substitute to replace the afflicted player in the case of an external injury such as this.
From here on, India will always be playing catch up. First, Pant is a key player for the team and will now play a part in the game. It means England have a batter more in both innings, and that makes this a lopsided contest. On occasions where the injury is pronounced and external, it should be that the match referee or the on-field umpires are empowered to allow for a substitute. Such a thing will only help the game going forward.
Coming to the injury itself, a couple of orthopaedic surgeons whom I managed to speak to confirmed that the bone where he got hit is one of the most fragile parts of the body. It would be an absolute miracle if Rishabh plays any further role in the series. And he, for me, is the most important player in this team. Not only is he a leader, he is also the game-changer. He is one who England are always on the back foot for, and his very presence is a significant plus for India.
While Dhruv Jurel is indeed a fine player, he is no Pant, and this injury has dented India’s chances in the series in a huge way. Not just in this game, but also at The Oval where he scored a century back in 2018, his absence will be felt. And Pant, much like Jasprit Bumrah, is irreplaceable. There is no one who can hit Jofra Archer with complete disdain and then dispatch Brydon Carse over the boundary with utter nonchalance. His defensive technique is as good as his attacking prowess, and in red-ball cricket, he is India’s most valuable player alongside Bumrah.
Coming to the shot itself, it wasn’t needed. Honestly, it just was not at the time. Pant had tried something similar against Archer and was seen admonishing himself for the mistake. Thereafter, he had taken control of the game and, with Sai Sudharsan in tow, had taken India to a very good position. But just like at Lord’s, it happened at the most crucial time for India. And in doing so, opened the door for England. While it is all too easy to say that this is how Pant plays, the truth is he needs to realise what works for his team. For him too, this is a telling blow, and one can only hope it will make him wiser in the future.
For more exciting articles, follow RevSportz.