In a display of immense courage and resilience, Rishabh Pant walked out to bat on Day 2 of the Manchester Test despite suffering a fractured foot on opening day. With India in a precarious position, Pant stood tall, absorbing the pressure and launching counterattacks when opportunities arose. His 54-run knock from 75 deliveries, laced with 3 fours and 2 sixes, was a combination of bravery and sheer class. Even with visible discomfort, he managed to rotate the strike smartly and punished anything in his arc. As India reached 349/9, Pant’s effort had almost dragged them to safety before a moment of brilliance from England’s Jofra Archer brought the valiant innings to a close.

Jofra Archer’s thunderbolt crashes through Rishabh Pant’s defense in a stirring end to a gritty knock

Archer, bowling his 26th over, ran in from around the wicket and delivered a length ball that initially angled in towards the left-handed Pant. Expecting it to come in further, Pant planted his front foot down and shaped for a defensive push, but the ball had other ideas. After pitching, it held its line just long enough before jagging away off the seam. The slight deviation proved decisive. Pant, batting from the crease and slightly late on the shot due to the injured foot and sharp seam movement, saw the ball whisk past the outside edge and crash violently into the top of off-stump.

The stump cartwheeled backwards in dramatic fashion, a sight that drew gasps from the crowd and mirrored the manner in which Archer had dismissed Pant at Lord’s in the same series. The replay captured every millisecond of brilliance, the angle in, the late seam, and the perfect length, all combining to expose even a well-set batter. Archer didn’t roar in celebration; he simply turned and walked back with a cool nod, knowing he had delivered one of the most unplayable balls of the match. Pant, meanwhile, received a standing ovation and a pat on the back from Mohammed Siraj. His dismissal wasn’t just the fall of a wicket,  it was the end of a heroic, almost cinematic innings defined by pain, passion, and pride.

Here’s the video:

No better ASMR in cricket 🔊

Jofra Archer has Rishabh Pant’s poles flying ✈️

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— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 24, 2025

Also WATCH: ENG vs IND: Rishabh Pant receives standing ovation as he walks out to bat on Day 2 of Manchester Test despite toe fracture

Ben Stokes’ five-for and Archer’s late burst leave Manchester crowd in awe as India finish with 358

Day 2 of the fourth Test at Manchester saw a gripping blend of resilience, skill, and drama as India’s first innings came to a close at 358. Resuming from their overnight score of 264/4, the Indian lower order battled tough English conditions and relentless pressure to push the total past the 350-mark. Pant’s return to the crease despite a fractured foot stood out as a heroic subplot. Retired hurt the previous day on 37, Pant came back at 101.4 overs and went on to craft a courageous 54 off 75 balls, laced with three boundaries and two sixes. He braved pain, hostile pace, and a swelling foot before being bowled by a Jofra Archer beauty that clipped off-stump a dismissal reminiscent of Lord’s. Ben Stokes led England’s bowling with a commanding five-wicket haul (5/72), using seam and bounce cleverly on a slow pitch. Archer, too, was potent with 3/73, including the dismissals of Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah. India’s innings saw significant contributions from openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (58), KL Rahul (46), and a steady 61 from debutant Sai Sudharsan.

Also WATCH: ENG vs IND – Harry Brook channels ‘Usain Bolt’ to tackle over-rate woes; rushes to field between overs during the Manchester Test