Heroes Playing Through Pain: Woakes, Pant and Bashir

The India vs England 2025 Test series will be remembered not just for Mohammed Siraj's match-winning heroics or Shubman Gill's record-breaking runs, but for the extraordinary courage shown by players who battled through serious injuries. From Chris Woakes batting left-handed with a dislocated shoulder to Rishabh Pant hobbling to the crease with a fractured foot, this series showcased cricket's warrior spirit at its finest.

The Ultimate Display of Courage: Chris Woakes at The Oval

On the final morning of the series, with England needing just 17 runs for victory, Chris Woakes walked out to bat with his left arm in a sling. Having dislocated his shoulder while diving in the field on Day 1, the 36-year-old was officially ruled out of "any further participation" on Friday—yet there he was on Monday, ready to face Mohammed Siraj's thunderbolts one-handed.

The Preparation

Woakes had spent Sunday in the indoor nets, testing his limits. Initially trying to bat normally, the pain proved unbearable as soon as the pace increased. He then switched to a left-handed stance, using his uninjured right arm as the "top hand" while keeping his damaged shoulder as far from the ball as possible.

Getting padded up required help from physio Ben Davies. He wore two arm guards on his right arm and wrapped his left arm in extra protection under an England sweater. When he scrambled for a bye, Mohammed Siraj was left shaking his head—not at the run, but at the sheer audacity of what he was witnessing.

Rishabh Pant's Gutsy Display in Manchester

Earlier in the series, Rishabh Pant provided his own masterclass in courage during the fourth Test. After fracturing his right foot attempting a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes, medical advice suggested 6-8 weeks of rest. Instead, Pant strapped up and continued batting.

His hobbled walk to the crease became an iconic image of the series—every step clearly painful, yet his determination unwavering. While his contribution was limited due to the injury, the sight of him refusing to give up epitomized India's fighting spirit throughout the tour.

The Injury Roll Call

The series took a brutal toll on both teams, with key players falling like dominoes:

India's Casualties

England's Walking Wounded

The Bowling Heroes Who Wouldn't Give Up

Shoaib Bashir's Fractured Finger

England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir bowled through a fractured finger for most of the series after injuring his left hand attempting a return catch off Ravindra Jadeja at Lord's. Despite the pain, he continued to bowl his off-breaks and even contributed with the bat when needed.

Mohammed Siraj's Full-Series Marathon

While not carrying a specific injury, Mohammed Siraj's workload deserves recognition. As the only fast bowler to play all five Tests for either side, he bowled 134 overs across the series while maintaining pace and aggression right until his series-clinching yorker.

Cricket's Culture of Playing Through Pain

This series highlighted cricket's unique relationship with injury. Unlike other sports where substitutions are routine, cricket demands players to "deal with it," as Ben Stokes bluntly put it.

Historic Precedents

The England-India series joined cricket's hall of pain tolerance:

• Malcolm Marshall (1984): Batted one-handed with a fractured thumb, then took 7/53

• Graeme Smith (2009): Batted at number 11 with a broken hand

• Nathan Lyon (2023): Batted on crutches with a torn calf

The Debate Around Substitutions

Woakes' final-day heroics reignited discussions about injury replacements in cricket. While inspiring to watch, seeing players risk serious long-term damage raises questions about duty of care versus competitive spirit.