On Day 2 of the fourth Test between India and England at Manchester, Rishabh Pant showcased character after he walked in to bat, despite having a fracture on his toes. On Day 1, Rishabh was retired hurt after a ball from Chris Woakes crashed into the toes of his front foot. Rishabh left the field in pain and was taken for scans, which showed fractured bones in his feet. Despite that, on day 2, he walked in to bat after Shardul Thakur was dismissed. Rishabh was said that he needs six weeks to be fit to play, but he came in and scored a crucial half century. Rishabh's grit on the field reminds of Indian cricketers throughout the ages, from Javagal Srinath to Rohit Sharma who sidelined injury and still played their part for their team. Here are a few instances when Indians denied injury and stepped up for the team: 1 | Anil Kumble with fractured jaw (10–14 May 2002, 4th Test vs West Indies, St John’s, Antigua) During India’s 2002 tour of the West Indies, Anil Kumble displayed unmatched courage. Batting at No.7, he was hit flush on the jaw by a Mervyn Dillon bouncer in the fourth Test, causing a fracture. Despite spitting blood and enduring severe pain, Kumble batted for 20 more minutes, scoring six extra runs. Even more remarkably, he refused surgery and returned to bowl in the second innings with his jaw tightly bandaged. He delivered 14 consecutive overs and dismissed Brian Lara, helping India draw the Test. His bravery earned praise from legends like Viv Richards, who called it “one of the bravest things” he'd witnessed. Read also: India’s White-Ball Tour of England Set for July 2026: Full Details 2 | Sachin Tendulkar with fractured rib (5 November 2007, 1st ODI vs Pakistan, Guwahati) In a 2006 ODI against Pakistan, Sachin Tendulkar was struck on the chest by a Shoaib Akhtar bouncer in the very first over, resulting in two fractured ribs. Battling severe discomfort, he played on despite being unable to cough or sleep properly. Tendulkar not only completed that match but also featured in the remaining four ODIs and the subsequent Test series. His determination stood out as he contributed significantly in India's successful chase of 240, which they won by five wickets. 3 | Mohinder Amarnath with teeth falling out (1982–83 Test series against the West Indies, Queen's Park Oval) During the 1982–83 Test series against the West Indies, in the Bridgetown Test at Queen’s Park Oval, fast bowler Malcolm Marshall struck him flush on the mouth with a fierce bouncer, knocking out several teeth and forcing Amarnath to retire hurt for stitches. Bleeding heavily, he later washed his blood-stained shirt in the dressing room and bravely returned to the crease. Not only did he continue batting, but he also scored a vital 80 runs, showcasing immense courage against the likes of Marshall, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, and Joel Garner His courageous bat in that match earned him the Man of the Match award, helping India avoid an innings defeat as West Indies won by 10 wickets. Amarnath scored 91 and 80 in the first and second innings. India's first-innings total of 209 and second-innings score of 277 were eclipsed by West Indies, who chased down the target without losing a wicket. Read also: Rishabh Pant Breaks Multiple Records Despite Foot Injury in Manchester 4 | Shikhar Dhawan first metacarpal injury (5 June 2019, World Cup vs Australia, The Oval) On 5 June 2019, during a World Cup match against Australia at The Oval, Shikhar Dhawan sustained a fractured left thumb after being struck by a short delivery from Pat Cummins early in his innings. Despite the injury, Dhawan continued to bat with immense grit and composure. He took painkillers and remarkably settled down to smash 16 boundaries in a stellar knock. The left-hander scored 117 off 109 balls, guiding India to a commanding total of 352/5. Australia, in reply, were bowled out for 316, giving India a 36-run victory. Dhawan’s effort was hailed as heroic, marking India’s 27th World Cup century. However, the injury worsened, eventually ruling him out of the remainder of the tournament. 5. Rohit Sharma with dislocation in web (7 Dec 2022, 2nd ODI vs Bangladesh, Dhaka) On 7 December 2022, during the second ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka, Rohit Sharma suffered a serious injury while fielding at second slip. On the fourth ball of the innings, he attempted a catch that struck the webbing between his left thumb and forefinger, causing a deep cut and dislocation. Rohit immediately left the field with a bloodied hand and received stitches after medical scans. Despite the injury, he later returned to bat at No.9 with his thumb heavily taped and under painkillers. Displaying remarkable grit, Rohit smashed an unbeaten 51 off just 28 balls, including five sixes and three fours. Though his valiant effort nearly pulled off a miracle, India eventually lost by five runs. Coach Rahul Dravid praised his bravery.