England National Cricket Team skipper Ben Stokes and premier pacer Jofra Archer were seen deliberately targeting India National Cricket Team wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant’s injured foot during the fourth Test.
Ben Stokes also crossed the line by mocking Rishabh Pant for limping in the middle on Day 2 of the fourth Test match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Also Read: Watch: Jofra Archer castles Rishabh Pant in never-seen-before fashion as stump replants itself after a cartwheel
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Rishabh Pant targeted by England
On Day 1 of the Manchester Test match against England, Rishabh Pant sustained a foot injury during the 68th over and was forced to retire hurt after scoring 37 runs.
Pant tried to play a premeditated reverse sweep off Chris Woakes and under-edged the ball onto his boot. The blow to the foot left the wicketkeeper-batsman in pain, and he was carried off the field in a buggy.
The scans further revealed that Pant has fractured his foot, and BCCI informed that he will not be doing keeping in the rest of the game. However, the board mentioned that Pant would walk in to bat if needed.
The need eventually arose after the dismissal of Shardul Thakur in the 102nd over. Rishabh Pant walked down the stairs slowly and received a standing ovation from the Manchester crowd as he limped his way to the middle.
Pant was in visible discomfort after arriving at the crease, and he was struggling to run between the wickets. England didn’t show any kindness towards the Indian star, and they were seen ruthlessly targeting his injured foot.
English skipper Ben Stokes was seen carefully observing Pant’s foot and then decided to target him with a barrage of yorker-length deliveries. Stokes didn’t stop there as he was seen mocking Pant, who was hobbling, with a cheeky smile and pretending to point at his watch, accusing the wicketkeeper-batsman of wasting time.
Jofra Archer followed suit, and he also tried to directly hit Pant’s fractured foot. He was not very successful, though, as the wicketkeeper-batsman punished him with a brilliant six.
Rishabh Pant hobbling to the crease, and Ben Stokes, cheeky smile on his face, pretends to point at his watch 😂 #ENGvIND
— David Charlesworth (@charlie_4444) July 24, 2025
Pure dedication 🇮🇳🫡
Even Ben Stokes couldn’t hold back the praise as @RishabhPant17 showed next-level grit, batting through injury & still scoring for the team.#ENGvIND 👉 4th TEST, DAY 2 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar 👉 https://t.co/Y3btplYguV pic.twitter.com/bJmYy70n8U
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 24, 2025
Rishabh-Panti Max! 🔥😎
They tried to hit him where it hurts… Pant responds by hitting it out of the park!
Toughness has a new name @RishabhPant17 🙌🏻#ENGvIND 👉 4th TEST, DAY 2 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar 👉 https://t.co/Y3btplYguV pic.twitter.com/6a2zPCQsr5
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 24, 2025
Ben Stokes Bashed For His Disgusting Act:
ben stokes hitting on pant’s leg…. ben stokes they can never EVER make me like you ever
— kashish (@notveryslayofu) July 24, 2025
Stokes is aiming the right boot of pant
— motichoor (@Lucknow_ke420) July 24, 2025
Spirit of the game champion Stokes targeting pant’s injured leg 🫡#ENGvsIND
— ಹರ್ಷ (@grharsh) July 24, 2025
Ben Stokes Intentionally Attacking Rishabh Pant’s Broken Toe… pic.twitter.com/h76POTCIkA
— 🏏 (@Crickaith) July 24, 2025
This English bowling attack targeted Pant’s injured leg relentlessly, their so called dressed up audience booed a 25-year-old Gill when he came to bat yesterday. If anyone dares say “England plays with spirit,” I’ll laugh in their face.
— Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla) July 24, 2025
If you aren’t watching, pl do. Pant coming out to bat with a broken toe is probably the most courageous from an Indian cricketer after Kumble bowling in WI with a broken jaw.
Stokes aiming for that right toe, I suppose is how this unforgiving game is played…#INDvsENG— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) July 24, 2025
It’s a body blow – Ravi Shastri on Pant’s injury
Speaking on Sky Sports, former India head coach Ravi Shastri said that Pant’s injury is a body blow to the visitors and it will affect the Indian dressing room. Shastri also opined that England would be elated not to deal with the threat of Pant.
“It’s a body blow. It will affect the dressing room, because they will have lost a batter for the game – not just this innings, but for the next innings as well. If India get in to a tight position, his services will have been needed. He’s an in form player, plus the energy he brings in the way he plays, the way he disrupts the opposition attack.”
“From England’s point of view, they think ‘at least we can control the game now’. There’s no man in the middle to give them sleepless nights, they don’t have that headache anymore,” Shastri was quoted as saying on Sky Sports’ broadcast ahead of day two’s play.
