Test cricket has seen its share of heroic moments, players who stood tall through pain and injury.
Think Anil Kumble bowling with a broken jaw in Antigua, Graeme Smith batting with a broken hand, or Nathan Lyon turning up with a torn calf. Now, add Rishabh Pant to that legendary list.At Old Trafford, during a must-win Test, Pant walked out to bat with a fractured toe. The entire stadium rose to its feet. Hobbling, grimacing, but determined, this was not a man looking for sympathy. This was a cricketer answering his team’s call.
A Warrior’s Knock: 54 Runs That Meant Everything
Pant didn’t just show up. He fought and delivered. His 54-run knock wasn’t just brave, it was also historic.
It marked his fifth 50-plus score in the series, the most by any Indian wicketkeeper in a single Test series. Legends like MS Dhoni and Farokh Engineer never went beyond four.
On a day when England dominated both with bat and ball, Pant gave India its only moment to smile. His courage brought life to a gloomy day.
Beloved in England, Record-Breaker on Their Turf
Pant’s relationship with England, especially as a touring batter, is becoming legendary. His nine 50-plus scores in England speak for themselves. He’s earned more ovations from English fans than many home batters.
And he just added another jaw-dropping record: With 479 runs in this series (so far), Pant now holds the record for most runs by a wicketkeeper in a Test series in England, across any team.
Yes, even English wicketkeepers haven’t scored this much on home soil in a single series.
Not Just an Innings, But a Statement
What Pant showed at Old Trafford wasn’t just resilience, it was legacy-building bravery. Even if India goes on to lose the series, fans will remember this image: a battered, limping Pant, refusing to quit.
From record-breaking runs to unmatched spirit, Rishabh Pant has proven why he is a generational talent, one who continues to redefine what it means to be a wicketkeeper-batter in Test cricket.
Also Watch: Why always Rishabh Pant? England series all but over for India’s X-factor
