Hobbling Rishabh Pant wins hearts at Old Trafford

If battling pain is an emotion, one usually associates it with daily life for humans. But then, if you happen to be a maverick called Rishabh Pant, battling pain, risking life and putting everything in he can for India has become a template. Sample this, the guy was told he has a toe fracture and advised six weeks rest on Wednesday. Perhaps, in a normal case, any athlete in any sport would take medical advice seriously and rest.

No, not Rishabh Pant. This was one defining image from Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday when Pant came out to bat. How he got his fractured tight toe into his cricket boot God alone knows. However much you inject a pain killer or pop pills, the sheer body weight being transferred to the foot can be killing. No, not if you are Pant, someone who puts in heart and soul for India. To come out, look at the sky and resume his innings, this was rare emotion for everyone. Just that, Pant was calm in pain, he stepped out, looked at the sky, even touched the ground. And then, he smashed a six off Jofra Archer. Jeez, to bat on one foot and produce such outrageous stuff, Rishabh Pant set social media on fire even as the Indian batting collapsed like a salted chips packet getting crushed under a bus.

A half ton from Pant for India and the effort which had come in the wicket-keeper and India vice-captain, this show was defining. For those who have riled and ridiculed Pant, this was not a show he was putting on for himself or to prove a point. It takes a large heart, treating pain as a pleasure while playing for India, against medical advice and then producing strokes which show he is fearless. The cheap fan may still say what is the big deal, but try just banging your toe against the door accidentally and then walk. The pain will be killing. Pant has faced pain many times.

Just before this, in the third Test, he had again suffered an injury in his hand/fingers. He was not able to keep wickets, but he was at nets to bat and again scored runs for India. There were two versions of Rishabh Pant one saw in this sweet half ton spread over two days. When he was taken off the ground on a golf cart on Wednesday in pain, the image of a cut and bleed was chilling. He went to the hospital for scans and the prescription was clear: Rest for six weeks. But then, just as in a combat sport like boxing where the pugilist takes blows and still fights, Pant showed similar qualities. He did not even have to do this, come out again. There is nothing left for him to prove, other than keep performing for India. In fact, by putting more load on his foot, he may have even aggravated the injury further. But that’s RP, someone who will do stuff which is bizarre, bordering on madness. His England tour is now over.

Rewind to the car crash Rishabh Pant suffered in December 2022. He walked out of a burning car after a high-speed crash. Those images still haunt you, He underwent surgery and then was out of action for a long period, before returning to cricket in 2024, where he played the IPL and also shone for India in the ICC T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.

Pant has had his run-ins, unofficially, with coach Gautam Gambhir. To be benched for the Champions Trophy in Dubai and allow KL Rahul to be in the 11 as keeper-batter, Pant was ignored. The young man smiled, did not say a word. He played the IPL for Lucknow Super Giants, again got bad press. All that does not matter. Pant plays cricket withs swagger and style. If there is pain, agony, he does not flinch. Bravery or macho, the effort from Pant defined him as a man who battles for India in Test cricket. This effort will be remembered for a gamut of emotions he has produced. Once again.