ENG vs IND: Ravi Shastri explains why Rishabh Pant shouldn't play the Manchester test as pure batter

Rishabh Pant had injured his finger during the Lord’s test, with Dhruv Jurel taking over keeping duties.

As the Indian Cricket Team gets ready for fourth test of the five-match test series against the England Cricket Team in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, all eyes will be on Rishabh Pant. With victories at Edgbaston and defeats at Headingley and the Lord’s, India are trailing 1-2 in the series. Manchester will host the fourth game of the series from July 23.

After suffering a finger injury on first day of the third test, Pant was replaced by Dhruv Jurel, who kept wickets for rest of the game. The management is adamant about playing Pant in the fourth test at Old Trafford, Manchester, even though India are 1-2 behind in the five-match series.

At Thursday’s optional training session in Beckenham ahead of the fourth test, Pant opted for moderate workouts rather than hitting and keeping drills. Sources said that the agony continued even when there was no visible tape on the finger.

Ryan Ten Doeschate, India’s assistant coach, has stated that, given his strong form, Pant is probably going to play in the fourth test as a pure batter.

“Look, I don’t think you’re going to keep Rishabh out of the Test no matter what. He batted with quite a lot of pain in the third Test, and it’s only going to get easier. But keeping is the last part of the recovery. We don’t want to go through that again, where we have to replace the keeper mid-match.

He’ll have to keep, and he’ll have to bat. He can’t do one of the two. If it’s a fracture, he should rest and be ready for The Oval. But if not, he has about nine days to recover,” ten Doeschate had told reporters.

‘It could be worse.’ – Ravi Shastri urges Rishabh Pant not to play unless fully fit

Ravi Shastri, meanwhile, has objected to the plan, claiming that it could exacerbate his ailment. According to Shastri, the wicket-keeper batter ought to take a break and prepare for the last test match at the Oval.

“He’ll have to field, and if he fields, that’ll be worse. With the gloves, at least there’s some protection. Without gloves, if he gets something that stings him there, then it won’t be very good. It’ll worsen the injury. He’ll have to keep, and he’ll have to bat. He can’t do one of the two. If it’s a fracture, he should rest and be ready for The Oval. But if not, he has about nine days to recover,” Shastri told ICC.

With 425 runs from three games at an average of 70.83, two hundreds, and as many fifties, Pant is currently the second-highest run scorer in the series. As India attempt to tie the series, he will try to maintain his form in the fourth test.

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