The crowd at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground stood on its feet when they saw Rishabh Pant walking out for the second time on Day 2 of the fourth Test between England and India in Manchester. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter hobbled as he climbed down the stairs, entered the field, looked at the skies, and went about his usual business. The 27-year-old played on a single foot. The commentators, the crowd, and even Ben Stokes were all in awe. The vice captain of India, retired hurt for 37 on Day 1, notched up another half-century for the country before English pacer Jofra Archer uprooted his wicket in a piercing delivery. Pant departed for a gritty 54. The crowd applauded his heroics and gave Pant a thunderous farewell. This was an exhibition of courage at its finest, one that reminded fans of the great Anil Kumble, who returned to the action with a broken jaw and took the wicket of legend Brian Lara in a Test match against the West Indies in 2002. Rishabh Pant In Pain Batting on 37 on Day 1 of the fourth Test, Pant looked to reverse sweep one of Chris Woakes’s deliveries. When the batter appeared to be struggling to put weight on his foot, the cameras captured his right toe bruised and swollen. Writhing in pain, Pant was carted off the field on a golf buggy, and clouds loomed large over his participation in the rest of the Test and subsequently the series. Rishabh Pant's foot is bleeding and a lot of swelling as well. He is in a lot of pain. 🥺 – Comeback strong, Champions! pic.twitter.com/4tAGcdLshG — Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) July 23, 2025 Rishabh Pant Returns Sensing that India needed him back in action after Shardul Thakur was dismissed for 41 off 88 balls when the scorecard read 314/6, the broadcasters caught a padded-up Pant limping and coming out to bat. All while suffering from a broken toe. Although he struggled to take singles and rotate strike, Pant reached the half-century mark, adding crucial runs to India’s total. Here comes Rishabh Pant… A classy reception from the Emirates Old Trafford crowd ? pic.twitter.com/vBwSuKdFcW — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 24, 2025 Also Read: Rishabh Pant Creates History, Becomes India’s Highest Run-Getter In… “I have been fortunate to have seen some great moments in cricket. But to see #RishabhPant walking out to bat with a broken toe and seeing the warmth with which everyone reacted was as emotional as anything I have seen,” Harsha Bhogle wrote in astonishment. In our culture the little tap on the head to someone younger is a way of saying "well done". This frame, brilliantly captured by Anis ul Hasan, our cameraman at @SonySportsNetwk, is one of the best I have seen. It shows respect, admiration and is so Indian. pic.twitter.com/FqAbMbV4mu — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 24, 2025 The cricket fraternity was in absolute awe. It was a brave and class act by the Indian vice captain, they opined. An ASTOUNDING innings from a hobbling Rishabh Pant comes to an end… ?️? pic.twitter.com/30bqcVbmS2 — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 24, 2025 Indian Cricket Fans Bow Down That Pant had survived a near-fatal car accident was back in the public discourse. ICT fans believed that this was just a regular day for the courageous cricketer at his job, who had made a full recovery and returned to the sport after that freak accident. Rishabh Pant ? pic.twitter.com/7FpyMmikgI — कृष्णा (@iiamkrshn) July 24, 2025 Rishabh Pant is such a mentality monster. Nothing in life can keep him away from his passion for cricket❤️ pic.twitter.com/RKVWX1034s — Pari (@BluntIndianGal) July 24, 2025 Anil Kumble’s bravery was remembered. Rishabh Pant coming to play despite serious injury pic.twitter.com/CPJNXrvDa6 — Sagar (@sagarcasm) July 24, 2025 Rishabh Pant has now equalled the record of most sixes hit by an Indian in Tests with Virender Sehwag. His incredible contribution to the team at the No. 5 position also became a talking point on social media. PANT AT NUMBER 5 IN TESTS: 97(118), 89*(138), 8(11), 96(97), 36(26), 50(31), 146(111), 57(86), 46(45), 93(104), 39(52), 109(128), 4*(5), 20(49), 99(105), 18(19), 0(3), 64(57), 37(78), 1(10), 21(35), 28(31), 9(12), 30(104), 40(98), 61(33), 134(178), 118(140), 25(42), 65(58),… pic.twitter.com/2UT0hPL2Sq — Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 24, 2025 What Was The Injury? Chris Woakes’s yorker, which Pant under-edged onto his right foot, resulted in a fracture. The scans at the hospital revealed that the wicketkeeper-batter had a fracture around the metatarsal bone. This would require Pant a minimum of six weeks to fully recover, ruling him out of the remainder of the Manchester Test and the fifth and final contest at The Oval that kicks off on July 31.