India, July 24 -- The sight of Rishabh Pant limping down the stairs of the Old Trafford cricket stadium in Manchester is one that will stand the test of time. After copping a blow to his right toe yesterday, the BCCI, almost 24 hours later, confirmed that Pant had sustained a fracture in his toe. Now, when the injury is as serious as a fracture - albeit a hairline crack - even the slightest of movements becomes a herculean task. Hence, when play resumed on Day 2, no one in their wildest imagination would have expected Pant to take the field, irrespective of how bad a situation India found themselves in.

And still, when Shardul Thakur was dismissed out caught at slips for a well-compiled 41 off 88 balls, the Manchester faithful erupted in...