Rishabh Pant injury: Former England captain bats for substitute – 'It's 10 vs 11 now'

The opening day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford took an unfortunate turn for Rishabh Pant, as the Indian wicketkeeper was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the right foot by a Chris Woakes delivery during an attempted reverse sweep. Pant, who was batting on 37 off 48 balls, left the field visibly in pain and was later transported off on a golf cart. Blood was seen seeping from his foot, and the area showed clear signs of swelling.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan weighed in on the incident, calling for a change in the rules.

“Ten versus eleven is not fair,” Vaughan said. “Substitutions should be allowed in the first innings, especially when injuries are clearly serious. If someone breaks a foot or hand, they should be replaced.”

However, not everyone agrees. Fellow ex-England skipper Alastair Cook expressed caution.

His concern lies in drawing the line between genuine and borderline injury cases.

“What if it’s just a bruise?” Cook asked. “Where do we stop? There’s room for manipulation.”



The incident raises a larger question for cricket: Should tactical substitutions be allowed for non-concussion injuries — or would that compromise the spirit and fairness of the game?
*This news has been published on Times of India on 24th July 2025

 

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