“Give that bowling arm a rest and my foot too” – these were the words of Team India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant as he paid a funny tribute to England pacer Chris Woakes following his announcement of international retirement on Monday, September 29. Pant wrote on social media. The message highlighted both admiration and a light-hearted recall of a memorable incident in their cricketing encounters.
He Said :
“Happy Retirement Woakesy. You have been amazing on the field. Lots of discipline, a big smile and always good vibes. Now you can finally give that bowling arm a rest and my foot too😂😂 You definitely left a mark on me before retirement.😅 Wishing you a fantastic journey ahead in whatever you choose.🤗,”
The incident Pant humorously referred to happened during the fourth Test of the same series at Manchester. The wicketkeeper-batter suffered a serious injury when he was hit on the foot attempting a reverse sweep off a yorker delivered by Chris Woakes. This blow forced Pant to miss the final Test of the series and sidelined him from competitive action for several weeks, leaving fans concerned about his availability for future matches.
Injuries and Challenges on Both Sides
Woakes himself had a challenging series, dislocating his left shoulder while diving to prevent a boundary on the opening day of the fifth Test. Although initially ruled out, he walked out to bat with his arm in a sling during the final innings, showing his commitment to the game. Pant, meanwhile, faced a longer recovery period, missing not only the concluding Test matches in England but also India’s victorious Asia Cup 2025 campaign. Additionally, he is set to miss the upcoming home Test series against the West Indies in October.
Pant’s Road to Recovery
Rishabh Pant has begun his recovery at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, engaging in various training exercises aimed at regaining full fitness. The 27-year-old shared a video on his Instagram handle demonstrating his ongoing workouts, signaling a strong commitment to returning to peak fform
Despite playing just four Tests in England, Pant was one of India’s highest run-getters, scoring 479 runs from seven innings at an average of 68.42, including two centuries and three fifties. His performance showcased his critical role in India’s batting lineup and underlined the anticipation of his eventual return to the field.
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