'How Many More Days In This?': Rishabh Pant Expresses Frustration Over Recovery From Toe Fracture

Team India Test vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has expressed his frustration over his recovery from a Toe Fracture sustained during the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series against England at Old Trafford in Manchester. Pant was hit on his right foot by Chris Woakes' delivery and immediately called for medical attention before he retired hurt on 37 off 46 balls as he was unable to walk and stand.

Pant was stretchered off the field on a buggy ambulance and headed to the hospital, where the scans revealed that he had a fracture in his right toe and was ruled out of action for six weeks. Despite a foot injury, the 27-year-old still walked out to bat to continue his first innings batting and completed 18 Test fifty, scoring a valiant 54 off 75 balls, including 3 fours and 2 sixes.

Thereafter, Rishabh Pant was ruled out of the series decider in the fifth and final Test at the Oval and replaced by N Jagadeeshan. Despite the absence of Pant, Team India pulled off a dramatic victory in the Oval Decider, clinching the five-match series draw under the leadership of Shuman Gill.

Pant eager to make a comeback

Rishabh Pant has been on the sidelines for over a month and is not participating in any competitive cricket, including the ongoing edition of the Delhi Premier League, as he continues to recover from the toe fracture. However, Pant apparently had had enough of the slow recovery process and the boredom of being sidelined.

Taking to his Instagram story, Pant shared a picture of his mirror selfie with the cast on his injured toe, captioning it with 'How many more days in this?', giving fans a glimpse of his frustration and eagerness to make a comeback to competitive after being sidelined for over a month.

This could probably be a lengthy sideline for Pant after sustaining an injury following 15 months of recovering from a near-fatal car accident on the Delhi-Dehradun highway on December 31, 2022.

Apart from a foot injury, Rishabh Pant also sustained an injury on his fingertips during the Lord's Test. He was sidelined from wicketkeeping duties, but batted, as he scored 74 and 9 in both innings of the third Test, which India heartbreakingly fell 23 runs short of achieving a 193-run target, despite Ravindra Jadeja's valiant, unbeaten innings of 61 off 181 balls.

Pant was one of the standout batters for Team India in the recent Test series against England, amassing 479 runs, including 2 centuries and as many fifties, at an average of 68.42 in seven innings.

Rishabh Pant's likely comeback to competitive cricket

There is no confirmation on Rishabh Pant's return to the field after sustaining a fractured toe in the Manchester Test. Given his latest injury update, Pant has not completely recovered from the injury. The 27-year-old was not picked for the Asia Cup 2025, which will begin on September 9.

India's next bilateral assignment is the home Test series against West Indies, which will begin on October 2, and there is uncertainty over Rishabh Pant's participation in the series, with selectors likely to wait until he has fully regained match fitness before making a decision. Following recovery from a foot injury, Pant is likely to check into the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) to undergo rehabilitation and specialized physiotherapy to regain full fitness before returning to competitive cricket.

Since there is still a month left for the Test series against West Indies at home, the BCCI selectors and Team India management will be hoping for Rishabh Pant to recover fully in time and regain match fitness.

MENAFN31082025007385015968ID1109998949