The opening day of the ongoing fourth Test at Old Trafford proved ill-fated for India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who suffered a fractured toe after being struck by a delivery from Chris Woakes. The fuller-length ball was miscued by Pant, and it ricocheted off his bat onto his right foot, forcing him to leave the field immediately in visible discomfort.

Though Pant bravely returned to bat on Day 2, scoring a gritty half-century, his movements were restricted, and signs of pain were evident throughout his stay at the crease. With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yet to release an official timeline for his recovery, multiple reports suggest Pant is likely to be out of action for six to eight weeks.

If the projected layoff holds true, the star keeper-batter could miss several important assignments, both domestic and international.