Pant nears return after aggravating injury earlier in Manchester

Did Rishabh Pant aggravate his foot injury by batting through pain in Manchester? The day after being hit on his right foot by Chris Woakes during the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Pant came out to bat again. It was a brave call but, as it turns out, it may have set back his recovery.

Pant was initially expected to be available for the ongoing home Test series against the West Indies, but he was unable to recover in time even for the subsequent away white-ball series against Australia.

Cricbuzz understands that Pant suffered a fifth metatarsal fracture, an injury that typically requires around six weeks to heal, with players usually returning to action within two weeks of the fracture healing.

However, in the case of Pant, the injury got aggravated as he put his team's interest before his well-being and came out to bat, in turn increasing his recovery time. "He may be paying the price for this, but will return soon," said a source close to him.

Pant is set to undergo a fitness test at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on Friday (October 10). There is a growing sense of optimism that the 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batter will pass the assessment and return to action soon. He is expected to be available for the Delhi team in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. He recently posted a picture of teeing off at a golf course in Bengaluru.

The Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) is expected to announce its Ranji squad later on Thursday (October 9), with Pant likely to be conditionally selected for the domestic fixture against Hyderabad, starting October 15. "The selection will be subject to fitness. He is expected to clear the test and play in the Hyderabad game. In the worst-case scenario, he will certainly be available for the second match against Himachal Pradesh, from October 25," a DDCA source said. Pant is believed to have discussed playing domestic fixtures with the DDCA officials.

Pant was batting on 37 when he was struck by a delivery from Woakes and was immediately carried off the field. Surprisingly, he returned the next day and scored some useful runs before eventually getting out for 54. In four Tests in England, Pant amassed 479 runs, including two centuries and three half-centuries, at an impressive average of 68.42.

Dhruv Jurel has been keeping wickets in his absence and even scored a century in Ahmedabad recently. However, Pant is expected to reclaim his place in the Indian team for the home series against South Africa in November-December.