India, July 24 -- Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes it was Rishabh Pant's decision alone to come out and bat on Day 2 of the fourth Test against England, despite suffering a fracture on his right foot on Day 1. Manjrekar ruled out the possibility of head coach Gautam Gambhir or captain Shubman Gill urging Pant to bat and help India in the must-win clash.

Pant injured himself late on Wednesday while attempting a reverse sweep to a yorker-length delivery from Chris Woakes. He was visibly in pain, carted off the field, and later taken to a hospital for scans. Reports suggested a six-week rest period, effectively ending his England tour.

Yet, in a stunning show of grit, Pant walked out to bat after Shardul Thakur's dismissal ...