ENG vs IND: Rishabh Pant's injury forces Michael Vaughan to question the ICC for their substitution rules

Ankitjit Singh is a Sub-Editor at Khel Now, known for his in-depth knowledge of cricket.

Published at :July 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM

Modified at :July 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

Rishabh Pant fractured his toe after he was hit by Chris Woakes’ delivery.

Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan was baffled by Rishabh Pant‘s injury in the fourth test between England and India. The match between the two teams is taking place at Old Trafford in Manchester.

India faced a blow on the first day of the ongoing fourth test against England. Keeper-batter Rishabh Pant was struck on his right toe while batting and then was taken off the field on a cart. He attempted to play the reverse sweep against Chris Woakes but got hit badly.

Rishabh Pant looked in a lot of pain, and then scans later revealed that he has fractured his toe. The keeper-batter at first didn’t travel to the ground on day two, ruling his chances out to bat in the first innings and even the second innings as well. However, he showed great grit and apart from returning to the ground, he also came out to bat. Pant was looking pretty solid at 37 when he got injured.

Clear and obvious injuries in the first innings of Tests we should allow like for like Subs – Michael Vaughan

With reports of Pant unlikely to bat, Michael Vaughan pointed out a major flaw in the rules of the game. He said that there should be substitutes allowed for the injuries, as that of Pant. Taking to his Twitter account, he said:

‘Clear and obvious injuries in the first innings of Tests we should allow like for like Subs .. we have concussion subs so surely we can have subs for injuries like Rishabhs..”.

Clear and obvious injuries in the first innings of Tests we should allow like for like Subs .. we have concussion subs so surely we can have subs for injuries like Rishabhs .. https://t.co/MComKbHbyn
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 24, 2025

Notably, the ICC introduced rules allowing for the substitution of a like-for-like player for an injured player. However, it hasn’t been used in international cricket yet; it’s only been used in domestic cricket.

As per the reports, Rishabh Pant has been advised to rest for six weeks. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will also be naming a replacement soon for the fifth test at the Oval.

Will Rishabh Pant bat in the ongoing ENG vs IND fourth test?

Rishabh Pant is likely to bat in the ongoing ENG vs IND fourth test if needed.

Who will replace Rishabh Pant in the Indian squad for the rest of the series?

As per the reports, Ishan Kishan, who was set to replace Rishabh Pant in the Indian squad for the rest of the series, has also been injured and the BCCI will look for someone else.

How many runs Rishabh Pant scored before getting injured?

Rishabh Pant scored 37 runs before getting injured.

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Ankitjit Singh

Ankitjit Singh is a dedicated sports journalist whose childhood dream was to play cricket—now, he serves the game through his work. With over three years of experience in reporting, writing, and editing, he brings deep insight to his coverage. A journalism graduate from Delhi University, Ankitjit’s passion for cricket took root during his college days and continues to drive his career.