Pant’s Toe Injury Proves Costly as England Seize Opening on Day 1
Test cricket thrives on rhythm. Sessions turn on moments, and matches often hinge on one player’s stroke of brilliance—or misfortune. Day 1 of the much-anticipated Old Trafford Test between India and England was a vivid reminder of this, as Rishabh Pant’s untimely toe injury shifted the momentum England’s way, just when India seemed to have built a strong platform.
India had entered the Test brimming with confidence, carrying the swagger of a side that had outplayed England earlier in the series. Conditions were overcast but not treacherous, and the pitch at Old Trafford, historically a friend to both seam and bounce, looked good for batting early on. Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first—backing his top order to weather the new-ball storm and lay a foundation.
And for much of the first session, India did exactly that. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal looked fluent, with Jaiswal in particular continuing his aggressive brand of batting, striking crisply through the off-side. Despite James Anderson and Mark Wood beating the bat several times, the Indian openers did not falter. The opening stand of 74 laid the groundwork for a big score, and even after Rohit nicked off to a beauty from Wood, India looked in command at lunch, 95/1.
The Pant Effect
As the middle session began, England began to claw back. Jaiswal fell to a loose drive. Shubman Gill was caught off guard by a sharp bouncer. Suddenly, from 95/1, India were 130/4. But then came Rishabh Pant, striding in with typical confidence, chirping and energetic, and quickly changing the tempo.
His approach was vintage Pant—unorthodox, fearless, and effective. He reverse-swept Moeen Ali with disdain and danced down the track to loft Joe Root straight over his head. In a matter of 25 balls, Pant had 31 runs, and the partnership with Jadeja was starting to repair the damage.
It was then, just as India seemed to be tilting the day back in their favour, that disaster struck.
The Toe That Turned the Day
Facing Mark Wood, bowling at full throttle, Pant attempted a flick to a full delivery that tailed in sharply. The bat came down a fraction too late, and the ball slammed flush into his left toe. He immediately crumpled to the ground in visible pain. The physio rushed in, and after a brief inspection, Pant was helped off the field.
At first, it appeared to be a minor knock. But as the minutes ticked by, it became evident that Pant would not be returning anytime soon. The dressing room was abuzz. The opposition, smelling blood, rallied.
India sent in Axar Patel as a concussion substitute of sorts for momentum, but the drop in tempo was evident. Without Pant’s counterattacking energy, England tightened the screws. Jadeja, now burdened with the anchor’s role, lost fluency. Axar fell cheaply, edging Anderson to second slip.
Suddenly, a promising 160/4 had become 181/7. Pant’s absence wasn’t just a loss of runs—it was a psychological dent. His mere presence unsettles bowlers; without him, England’s attack grew in confidence.
England Seize the Initiative
Joe Root, sensing the opportunity, brought himself on and trapped Shardul Thakur in front with a quick slider. Wood returned to mop up the tail. India were all out for 204—far below what they’d have aimed for at lunch.
For England, it was an opening they hadn’t expected. Their bowlers had looked jaded after the first session, but Pant’s injury injected new life into the team. Suddenly, the lines were tighter, the energy sharper, and the fielding more precise.
By the time England came out to bat, the mood had shifted. Zak Crawley started briskly, capitalizing on loose deliveries from Siraj and Thakur. Ben Duckett, promoted to see off the new ball, did just that—hanging in long enough to frustrate the Indians.
By stumps, England had reached 62/1, trailing by just 142 with nine wickets in hand. More importantly, they looked like the team dictating terms.
A Blow Beyond the Scorecard
Rishabh Pant’s injury was more than a blow to India’s first innings. It affected the batting depth, disrupted the momentum, and altered the match dynamics. Whether or not the toe is fractured, his absence from the field—and possibly behind the stumps—will continue to be felt.
Without Pant, India lose more than a wicketkeeper-batter. They lose a strategist, a momentum-shifter, and a morale booster. His fearless approach to Test cricket—often walking in during crises and converting pressure into counterattack—has become central to India’s overseas performances.
Jadeja, who remained unbeaten on 46, admitted in the post-day interview, “Losing Rishabh at that stage changed things. We had good rhythm. But once he left, we had to change our approach.”
The physio’s report is awaited, but early signs suggest Pant could be out for at least the rest of the match. If the injury is serious, it could even impact his availability for the rest of the tour—a major concern given India’s Test calendar.
England’s Renewed Confidence
From being on the back foot early in the day, England now walk into Day 2 with a clear upper hand. Their bowlers delivered under pressure, and the top order has given them a solid start. Root and Stokes, yet to come, will look to drive home the advantage.
It’s still early in the Test, but the psychological edge belongs to the hosts. India, for all their depth and experience, now face the prospect of batting last on a pitch that is beginning to show signs of uneven bounce.
What Lies Ahead
For India to claw back, early wickets on Day 2 are essential. Jasprit Bumrah will need to produce something special. The spinners—particularly Jadeja—will have to exploit any hint of rough outside the right-hander’s off-stump.
But the bigger question is whether India can mentally regroup. They’ve been here before and come back stronger. But with Pant in the treatment room and England resurgent, the task ahead looks steep.
Sometimes in cricket, it’s not just the big moments that shift matches, but the small, unfortunate ones—a mistimed shot, a dropped catch, or a blow to the toe. On Day 1 at Old Trafford, that blow belonged to Rishabh Pant, and with it, the door opened—for England.