'Rishabh Pant hardly put his foot on the ground': Ricky Ponting says injury 'doesn't look good at all' for India

By Admin

24 Jul, 2025

The first day of the Manchester Test brought a worrying moment for Team India and its fans, as star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant suffered a painful injury that might sideline him for the remainder of the match   and possibly the series. The injury, sustained while playing a reverse sweep, has drawn serious concern from former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who observed the incident closely.

Sudden Injury, Immediate Impact

Rishabh Pant was batting fluently on 37 when he attempted a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes. Unfortunately, he misjudged the delivery and inside-edged the ball onto his foot. Though he survived an LBW appeal and the DRS, he was visibly in pain and unable to continue. The Indian physio rushed onto the field, and Pant rolled on the ground for nearly 6–8 minutes before being helped off in a golf cart-like vehicle.

“He hardly put his foot on the ground,” said Ponting on Sky Sports. “The immediate swelling was the worry for me. I've had a metatarsal injury myself, and they're small, fragile bones.”

Ponting's Grim Prediction

Ponting, who coached Pant during his stint with the Delhi Capitals in the IPL, expressed serious concern about the nature of the injury. “The fact that he couldn't put any weight on it doesn't look good at all. If it's broken, he will be out of the game. If it's not, then they will do anything they can to get him back out there,” he said.

With the extent of the damage still uncertain, Ponting added a light-hearted yet pointed remark: “Hopefully, he doesn’t play any more reverse sweeps.”

A Blow to India’s Momentum

At stumps on Day 1, India were 264/4 with Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur at the crease. But Ponting feels Pant’s absence will be deeply felt. “With the way Rishabh plays and the momentum he brings to the Indian team, that is what they will potentially miss the most. Someone who can put the pressure on the opposition,” he stated.

Ponting emphasized that Pant’s injury could be a “massive dent on India’s chance,” not only in this match but possibly in the rest of the series if the injury proves severe.

Awaiting Confirmation

After the close of play, the BCCI released a short update, confirming Pant was being monitored by the Medical Team after undergoing scans at the hospital. Official reports are still awaited.

For now, all of India will be keeping their fingers crossed. Pant’s fearless approach and game-changing ability make him an indispensable part of the lineup. His absence could shift the momentum heavily in England’s favor   something India can ill afford at this stage of the series.