After a courageous 59-minute innings with a broken toe, Rishabh Pant can now relax and join Anil Kumble’s elite, revered company.
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Anil Kumble’s Grit Finds a Match in Rishabh Pant’s Gutsy Stand
Anil Kumble’s legendary toughness—bowling with a broken jaw against the West Indies in 2002—has long symbolized India’s fighting spirit in Test cricket. A man of resolve and quiet heroism, he turned pain into purpose. But now, he has company.
Rishabh Pant, with a fractured foot, walked out to bat at Old Trafford in a scene just as surreal and stirring. Written off as injured and out for weeks, Pant stunned everyone by returning not only to the field but to the fight. Where Kumble’s wires held his jaw in place, Pant limped with pride, pain defied by purpose. For 59 minutes, he stood tall in adversity, channeling his unpredictability and flair into raw courage.
What he did wasn’t just cricket—it was theatre. Brave? Certainly. Foolish? Maybe. But heroic? Undoubtedly. And in that moment, the cricketing world saw a mirror of Kumble in Pant—a new lion-hearted symbol of Indian resilience.
From being ‘ruled out’ to batting with a fracture foot
When Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur resumed India’s innings, there was no sign of Rishabh Pant. Washington Sundar took the crease instead—of course, it had to be him. Soon, the camera caught Pant in the dressing room, fully suited up in his India whites. Then came the surprising announcement: Pant would be “available to bat as per team requirements.”
Minutes later, Thakur was dismissed, and the crowd erupted—not only for the catch by Ben Duckett but also as Pant emerged limping from the dressing room. Every painful step down the stairs was a testament to his grit. Thakur, visibly moved, later remarked on Pant’s incredible pain tolerance.
England’s plans had to shift instantly. Could Pant run? Could he stand? Could he even bat? Against all odds, Pant stood, walked, and played with bravery. He smashed a six, timed a four, and reached a memorable fifty while hiding his pain behind a stoic expression.
When Jofra Archer finally bowled him, even Ben Stokes acknowledged Pant’s courage. His teammates applauded the warrior as he quietly left the field. Pant’s heroic effort now places him alongside legends like Anil Kumble—a true symbol of resilience and heart.
