Pant Suffers Foot Injury After Reverse Sweep Mishap; India End Day 1 at 264/4

Sports News: India's wicketkeeper-batter and vice captain has been injured in an unfortunate turn of events. Just when India looked comfortable with Pant and Sai Sudharsan at the crease, an outswinger from Chris Woakes hit Pant's right foot while the latter was attempting a reverse sweep. This comes as a huge blow for India, as a batter among the runs was not able to walk after the injury. He had to be taken off on the ground's ambulance, hinting towards a serious pain. The visual showed swelling and blood on Pant's right foot. The mishap happened when the southpaw was batting on 37* off 48.

Massive blow to India

Speaking on the Sky Sports show, former England cricketer and commentator Michael Atherton said that the injury can be a huge blow for India if it forces Pant to be unable to play this match. “If he is out of the game...if he's out of the series, then that's a massive blow to India and puts the day in a different light. That 264 for four becomes 264 for five, and with that new ball due, there is a potential to knock India over reasonably swiftly tomorrow. But if he returns to bat, he could change the game. So there is an uncertainty which we don't know. But it looked like quite a serious injury, because you don't get carted off otherwise,” he said.

Sudharsan's take on Pant's injury

Sai Sudharsan scored his maiden Test fifty in just his second outing in the format. While attending the press conference, the southpaw mentioned, “He was in a lot of pain definitely, but they've gone for scans. We'll get to know overnight; we'll probably get the information tomorrow. Obviously he will be a big miss because he was batting really well today as well, and plus we miss out on a batter. If he doesn't come back again, it will definitely have consequences. But at the same time, the batters who are batting right now, and there are a few more all-rounders inside. We'll try and give our best and bat long so that we negotiate that loss very well."

India finish day 1 at 264/4

After Pant' unfortunate injury and Sudharsan's untimely wicket, India found themselves in a bit of trouble at 235-4. Thanks to a stabilising 29-run partnership between India's two all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja (19*) and Shardul Thakur (19*). The latter was promoted up the batting order to maintain a lefty-righty combination.