On Day 2 of the fourth Test match between England and India at Old Trafford in Manchester, Rishabh Pant limped out to bat despite having a fractured foot, demonstrating an incredible amount of guts and commitment. When the 27-year-old attempted to hit Chris Woakes for a reverse sweep on the opening day of the Test match, he was struck squarely in the right foot. He needed to be removed from the pitch right away.
Rishabh Pant, however, cautiously made his way to the middle after Shardul Thakur was removed in the 102nd over of India’s first innings on Day 2, while the audience applauded his courage. At 37, the wicketkeeper-batter returned to the field and proceeded to score a half-century. His innings helped India reach a total of more than 350, but he was eventually out for 54 off 75 balls.
Hemang Badani, the head coach of the Delhi Capitals and a former cricket player for India, praised Pant’s bravery and stated the Indian vice captain demonstrated excellent leadership.
“You have to give him credit for his bravery because the day before he was unable to stand upright. He had to be taken off the pitch by a golf buggy. It’s difficult to fight with a fractured foot, particularly when your entire body weight is on it,” Badani stated in a Sony Sports interview.
“Being a typical player wasn’t enough. Although he is currently the vice captain, Rishabh Pant demonstrated his ability to lead in the future.
His mental toughness is evident. This instance demonstrated his reliability as a leader for many years to come,” he continued.
India will require a leader like this in the future: Pant’s strong performance, according to Badani Badani, went beyond his run totals. Playing for the country required a strong resolve and a never-say-die mentality.
“It was a truly leadership moment. He is communicating to his team that he is not scared of obstacles and that he is prepared to battle and put himself out there. India will require a leader like this in the future, Badani said.
Pant will only be used as a batsman in the fourth Test, according to confirmation from the BCCI. Once more, Dhruv Jurel will be taking over as wicketkeeper.
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