With four full days of Test cricket left at Old Trafford, India find themselves facing a worrying scenario — potentially playing the remainder of the fourth Test against England with just 10 batters. The concern arose after Rishabh Pant suffered a painful blow to his right foot late on Day 1 and had to be stretchered off the field.
The severity of the injury remains uncertain, but the reaction from Pant, coupled with concerned observations from former players such as Ravi Shastri, Ricky Ponting, and Michael Atherton, suggests it could be severe enough to sideline him for the remainder of the series. This setback couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Indian team. Already trailing 1-2 in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Shubman Gill’s side must win in Manchester to keep the series alive.
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Losing Pant — who has been India’s standout batter on this tour with two centuries and two fifties — would be a major blow, both tactically and psychologically. His aggressive batting and unpredictable shot-making have been crucial in unsettling England’s bowling plans. Former England captain Michael Vaughan voiced his concern on Test Match Special, calling for a rule change to allow teams a like-for-like substitute when a player is injured.
Rishabh Pant’s injury on the opening day of the 4th Test between India and England has Michael Vaughan suggest introduction of subs in cricket.#RishabhPant #INDvsENG #Manchester #OldTrafford #TestCricket https://t.co/CXYUrUKZ4r
— News18 (@CNNnews18) July 24, 2025
“I don’t like the fact that we’ve got four days left and we’re heading into what is effectively a 10 vs 11 contest,” Michael Vaughan said. “When concussion substitutes were introduced, I felt we should’ve gone a step further. If someone suffers a clear injury — like a broken foot or a ruptured muscle — they should be allowed to be replaced.”
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However, not everyone is on board with that idea. Alastair Cook expressed hesitancy, raising the issue of ambiguity around non-fracture injuries. “What if it’s just a bruise?” Cook asked. “Pant looked in extreme discomfort, but suppose the scans are clear — does he have to play through the pain? Where do you draw the line between discomfort and a legitimate replacement?”
The debate surrounding substitutes for non-concussion injuries is bound to intensify, especially in a series as hard-fought and physically demanding as this one. For now, India must hope Pant’s injury is not severe. But if he’s ruled out, not only will they lose a match-winner — they’ll be walking a tightrope in a must-win encounter with one less batter in the ranks.
