Will Rishabh Pant return for fourth Test against England at Old Trafford?

Wicketkeeper expected to be fit after finger injury at Lord’s; run-out proves costly

Last updated:
A.K.S. Satish, Sports Editor
2 MIN READ
Rishabh Pant is dejected after getting dismissed during the Lord's Test against England.
Rishabh Pant is dejected after getting dismissed during the Lord's Test against England.
IANS

Dubai: India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is expected to be fit for the fourth Test in Manchester, despite sustaining a finger injury while keeping during the first innings at Lord’s.

Pant, who was dismissed by a searing Jofra Archer delivery in the second innings, underwent scans after the match. “There is no major injury, so he should be fine,” confirmed skipper Shubman Gill after India’s 22-run loss in the third Test.

The injury raised concerns, given Pant’s long rehabilitation from a near-fatal car crash, but early assessments have ruled out anything serious. Barring a late setback, the flamboyant left-hander is set to resume wicketkeeping duties when the teams face off at Old Trafford on July 23.

Pant batted through the discomfort and, along with KL Rahul, was building a substantial first-innings lead for India with a superb 141-run partnership. But just before lunch on Day 3, Pant ran himself out — apparently trying to give Rahul a chance to complete his century before the break.

It took a moment of brilliance from Ben Stokes, whose direct hit removed Pant for a typically sparkling 74. Rahul went on to complete his second Test hundred at Lord’s and earn another name on the dressing-room honours board. But India ultimately matched, rather than surpassed, England’s first-innings 387 — a potentially decisive moment in the match.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain believed the run-out was a turning point. “When you look back, that Rishabh Pant run-out in India’s first innings will be absolutely vital. With the ball, in the field, with the bat — Stokes is never out of the game!” he said.

On the final morning, Stokes and the fiery Archer reduced India to 82/7 after Pant was bowled by a speedball from Jofra Archer to deal a decisive blow to India's chase. Ravindra Jadeja fought hard with an unbeaten 61, but England sealed the win when Shoaib Bashir’s sharp turner bowled Mohammed Siraj — who sank to his knees in despair as England players consoled him.

“This will be a tough one for India to take,” Hussain added. “If we had pie charts showing who won the sessions in this series, India have dominated many. But they’re 2-1 down because of key moments — little collapses, dropped catches, Pant’s run-out. India need a break.”

A.K.S. Satish
A.K.S. SatishSports Editor
From playing on the pitch to analysing it from the press box, Satish has spent over three decades living and breathing sport. A cricketer-turned-journalist, he has covered three Cricket World Cups, the 2025 Champions Trophy, countless IPL seasons, F1 races, horse racing classics, and tennis in Dubai. Cricket is his home ground, but he sees himself as an all-rounder - breaking stories, building pages, going live on podcasts, and interviewing legends across every corner of the sporting world. Satish started on the back pages, and earned his way to the front, now leading the sports team at Gulf News, where he has spent 25 years navigating the fast-evolving game of journalism. Whether it’s a Super-Over thriller or a behind-the-scenes story, he aims to bring insight, energy, and a fan’s heart to every piece. Because like sport, journalism is about showing up, learning every day, and giving it everything.
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