Team India fans were left holding their breath as star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was forced off the field with a worrying foot injury — and if Ricky Ponting’s words are anything to go by, the news might not be good.
During Day 1 of the fourth Test between India and England, Pant appeared to be in serious discomfort after trying to hit a reverse sweep .
What followed was a sight no cricket fan wants to see — the 27-year-old limped, winced, and eventually had to be taken off the field in a medical cart.
He retired hurt on 37 off 48 balls
Pant’s dynamic batting (462 Test runs on tour so far) and his leadership behind the stumps add temperament and fire to India’s lineup. Losing him—especially so suddenly—stalls batting momentum
And now, legendary Aussie cricketer Ricky Ponting has weighed in — and he’s clearly concerned.
“He hardly put his foot on the ground … the immediate swelling was the worry.… The fact that he couldn’t put any weight on it doesn’t look good at all.”
Ponting—who knows Pant from his IPL days—warned: “If it’s broken, he’ll be out of the game.”
The immediate swelling was the worry for me,” Ponting said on Sky Sports. “I’ve had a metatarsal injury myself and they’re small, fragile bones.
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Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, known for his straightforward takes, didn’t downplay the situation either. He told the broadcasters:
“Pant has a very high threshold for pain. So if he’s grimacing like that, then it’s real. It’s serious.”
— Ravi Shastri on live TV
At the time of writing, no official word has come in from the BCCI. However, sources say that Pant has been sent for scans and a detailed report is expected within the next 24 hours.
Given his injury history — most notably the car accident in December 2022 that kept him out for over a year — this latest setback could be serious, and heartbreaking.
Ricky Ponting isn’t someone who overreacts. As someone who’s coached Pant at Delhi Capitals in the IPL, he knows the player — and his pain threshold — better than most. If he’s concerned, India should be too.
“He looked in real trouble. That’s not the kind of injury you just walk off from,” Ponting added.
With the final Test just days away, every Indian fan and player is praying for good news.
India now awaits the scan report—fingers crossed, their star man might still light up Old Trafford again.
