Pant Fractures Foot; Ishan Kishan Named Standby

India's wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant suffered a significant right foot injury, confirmed by scans as a fracture, during the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford after being hit by a Chris Woakes delivery. Initially retiring hurt, Pant returned to bat on the second day but was ruled out of wicket-keeping duties for the rest of the match, with Dhruv Jurel stepping in. The BCCI stated Pant remains available to bat but is unfit to keep wicket, and his injury could sideline him for up to six weeks, casting doubt on his participation in the remainder of the series. Ishan Kishan has been officially named as a standby player for the upcoming fifth Test in case Pant is unavailable. Former England captain Nasser Hussain described Pant's absence as a major blow to India's chances in the series. Pant's determination to bat despite his injury was widely applauded by fans and commentators.