Mr Cricket UAE

3 times cricketers played through serious injuries

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Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant (Source: Getty Images)

Mr Cricket UAE Staff

Mr Cricket UAE Staff

Published - 01 Sep 2026, 12:51 PM Read time - 3 mins

Cricket often tests a player’s character as they have to brave through hostile conditions to perform at the highest level. Most of the time, a player is put through a stern test both by the conditions and the game circumstances.

However, there have also been a few occasions when players faced serious injuries on the pitch and appeared not to take any more part in the match. Despite that, they've put their teams ahead of their injuries and come out to play, earning the respect of fans. Here's a list of three such cricketers:

1. Rishabh Pant

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant suffered a toe injury during the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford in July 2025. Pant was in serious pain and had to be taken off the field in a golf-style buggy. Later, scans revealed he had a fractured metatarsal. Despite that, he showed great heart in walking out to bat the following day, hobbling on the stairs as the crowd welcomed him with a round of applause. He went on to score a valiant half-century as fans bowed down to his character.

2. Graeme Smith

Graeme Smith suffered a hand injury in the first innings during the third Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2009. Having already taken a 2-0 lead in the series, South Africa were aiming for a draw on the final day with their captain unavailable to bat. However, they lost their ninth wicket with just over eight overs remaining in the day.

Much to everyone’s surprise, Smith walked out with a broken hand to fight for his team and survive the last few overs to earn a draw. The Proteas skipper showed great heart in surviving 17 deliveries batting with just one hand.

However, Mitchell Johnson managed to eventually breach his defence and dismissed him with just ten more balls remaining in the day. As a result, Australia won the Test match by 103 runs, but Smith earned the respect of the cricketing fraternity with his heroic effort.

3. Anil Kumble

The legendary Indian wrist-spinner Anil Kumble is also part of the elite list, having bowled through a broken jaw during the 2002 Test against West Indies in Antigua. Kumble was hit by a bouncer from Mervon Dillon while batting and immediately spat out blood.

He was due to fly to Bengaluru to undergo surgery; despite that, he came on to bowl in the West Indies’ second innings with his jaw heavily bandaged. He even dismissed Brian Lara, getting him out lbw and registered figures of 1/29 in 14 overs.