Rishabh Pant: Gladiator act at Old Trafford evokes memories of Kumble

The sense of surprise and awe around the Old Trafford ground was palpable when Rishabh Pant walked out to resume his innings at the fall of Shardul Thakur’s wicket on Thursday. Test cricket is certainly no stranger to such acts of defiance and character — think back to the image of Anil Kumble bowling with a strapped jaw against the West Indies in 2002 — but then a fear lingered too.

Going out to bat with a broken metatarsal bone? What happens if it results in long-term damage for the 27-year-old in the prime of his career? But then, for someone like Pant — who said on his comeback from his near fatal car crash that he felt privileged to just be able to walk, let alone play cricket — it is perhaps quite possible to look at life differently.

A quick update by BCCI on its X handle confirmed on Wednesday that Pant would not keep wicket after the injury, but be available to bat ‘as per team requirements’. This, of course, gives no insight into the drama that likely transpired in the dressing room, but one thing is for certain — it was certainly the braveheart’s own insistence to go out there and give it a shot, as it would have otherwise left India one batter short in the game.

The rules for like-for-like replacement mandated that while Dhruv Jurel could keep wicket — much like the Lord’s Test in which Pant had clipped a fingernail — he couldn't bat for Pant. Coming out at an unbeaten 37, the score on which he retired hurt with a toe injury, Pant soldiered on in inimitable style as Ben Stokes’ bowlers cannily tried to fire yorker length deliveries aimed at his injured foot. He eventually fell for a priceless 54 off 75 balls, an effort worth its weight in gold.

No wonder social media went into emotional overdrive, with many fishing out an action photo of Kumble — who bowled 14 overs on the trot at St John's, Antigua in 2002 after suffering a broken jaw while batting, and still captured the wicket of Brian Lara. And only a few years ago, the sight of Nathan Lyon walking into a press conference on crutches during The Ashes also remains etched in memory.

On his X handle, TV pundit Harsha Bhogle was one of the first off the block: ‘’I have been fortunate enough to see some great moments in cricket. But to see #RishabhPant walking out to bat with a broken toe and seeing the warmth with which everyone reacted was as emotional as anything that I have seen.’’

It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Pant in international cricket so far, from enfant terrible to vice-captain of the Test team and a member of the think tank. On many an occasion, he has faced the rap for a sudden rush of blood, being called ‘irresponsible’ for his shot selection. After 24 July 2025, that tag has surely been laid to rest!