India's injury woes pile up as Pant's role restricted in series

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was on Thursday ruled out of the fifth Test of the series against England after fracturing his toe on the opening day of the fourth Test here, adding to a growing injury list and robbing the visitors of his much-needed flamboyance with the bat.

- Press Trust of India

The 27-year-old Pant retired hurt at 37 and went for scans after copping a blow on his right foot while attempting a reverse sweep off England pacer Chris Woakes on Wednesday.

Going into day two, all the chatter at Old Trafford was about Pant, who is probably the only one in the current Indian batting lineup with an ability to change the momentum with his audacious stroke-play.

After undergoing additional scans, Pant arrived at the stadium wearing a moon boot (a protective orthopaedic boot) to support his injured foot. “He is ruled out for the next six weeks. Ishan Kishan will be called in as cover. His metatarsal bones (a group of five long bones located between the ankle and toe) seem to be shattered. It doesn’t look good at all,” a BCCI source told PTI.

An official update from the BCCI is still awaited. But the severity of the injury was apparent given the blood that was seen seeping off Pant's right foot. The affected area had considerable swelling as well.

On day one, Pant was the only one to take the attack to Jofra Archer and Co. while the other batters struck at three runs per over.