When will Rishabh Pant return for India? How many matches will he miss after Foot Injury?

Rishabh Pant suffered a significant injury during the first day of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, which has now ruled him out of the remainder of the series.

The incident occurred in the first innings of the Manchester Test, when Pant, batting on 37, attempted a reverse sweep to a delivery from Chris Woakes but inside-edged the ball onto his right (front) foot.

He was instantly in visible pain, required on-field medical attention, and was unable to put any weight on the injured foot. With considerable swelling and a bloodied cut, Pant had to be escorted off the field on a golf cart designated as an ambulance.

Subsequent scans revealed that Pant had sustained a fracture to the metatarsal bone of his right foot. The medical team immediately ruled out his participation from all on-field activities for at least six weeks, effectively ending his involvement in the current Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and the crucial final Test at The Oval.

This setback has broader implications for the Indian team. Pant had been one of the standout performers in the series, with 462 runs from seven innings, making him the second-highest scorer for India behind Shubman Gill. Narayan Jagadeesan has been named replacement for the southpaw, who is likely to fly back home.

How many matches will Rishabh Pant miss for India?

Rishabh Pant has been handed a six-week rest on the sidelines for now. The India vice-captain's injury comes at a wrong time, with some crucial assignments scheduled in the next few months. Although Pant is expected to return to fitness within the stipulated time period, he may still end up missing a few matches.

If six weeks are considered, Pant's expected return period clashes with the Asia Cup 2025, which is set to start from September 9. The India star may not be risked for the Asia Cup, which will be played in T20 format this year.

In that case, Rishabh Pant will miss 3 to 7 T20I matches for India, the exact number depending on how they perform in the group stages of Asia Cup.