Manchester, July 25(HS): Shardul Thakur praised Rishabh Pant’s exceptional pain bearing capacity and spirit after Pant played despite a fractured toe during the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. Pant sustained the injury while attempting a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes on the first day and was taken for a scan but returned to bat on the second day after Thakur was dismissed. The atmosphere in the dressing room was emotional as Pant’s bravery shone through. Thakur highlighted Pant’s unique spirit, recalling instances of players, like former South Africa captain Graeme Smith, continuing to play with injuries.

Thakur emphasized that Pant’s high pain bearing capacity showcases his determination not to let it affect his performance. When Pant batted, he remained unbeaten at 37 runs initially, receiving a warm welcome from fans. Despite being targeted by England captain Ben Stokes, Pant remained resilient, reaching a half-century with sixes and fours before

bowled out by Jofra Archer for 54 runs. This innings allowed Pant to equal Virender Sehwag’s record for the most sixes in Test cricket for India, with both having hit 90 sixes. In the ongoing match, India scored 358 runs in their first innings, while England had 225/2 at the day’s end, trailing by 133 runs.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar