Indian batter Karun Nair praised wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for establishing a “very high standard” for players, especially after he continued to play despite a foot injury during the fourth Test against England in Manchester. The recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, highlighting the fierce competition and exceptional quality of cricket throughout the series.

A standout moment came when Pant, despite injuring his foot on day one while attempting a reverse sweep, made his way back to bat on day two. Using the stadium’s stair railings for support, he added valuable runs, including a half-century, which helped India secure a draw and keep the series alive.

In an interview with Revsportz, Nair said, “I believe Rishabh has set a very high standard for what is expected of us as players. In the fourth Test, he batted with a broken foot and still managed to score a fifty. His determination inspired many of us in the dressing room, demonstrating both the player and the person he is by prioritising the team.”

Nair drew inspiration from Pant, and with an injured finger during the final Test at The Oval. He scored 57 in the first innings and followed it up with 17 in the second.

Nair’s return to international cricket, after an eight-year break, did not meet expectations. Despite a stellar domestic season, he struggled to convert promising starts into bigger scores, accumulating 205 runs from eight innings at an average of 25.62, with just one half-century. Reflecting on his batting in the fifth Test at The Oval, he said, “It really made an impact on me, and that made it easy to decide what I needed to do for the team.”