IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant Likely to Play as Specialist Batter in Fourth Test
Rishabh Pant may play as specialist batter in fourth Test as finger injury delays return to wicketkeeping duties
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has hinted that Rishabh Pant is likely to feature in the fourth Test against England as a specialist batter, while his wicketkeeping duties remain uncertain.
Pant suffered a finger injury on Day 1 of the third Test at Lord’s and did not keep wickets after that. Dhruv Jurel took over behind the stumps as a substitute. Despite the injury, Pant batted in both innings, scoring 74 and 9.
Wicketkeeping Still a Concern
Ten Doeschate confirmed that Pant was in “considerable pain” during the Lord’s Test. Although Pant is expected to bat in the upcoming training session in Manchester, the coaching staff is being cautious about his workload.
“He will bat in the practice session in Manchester. You can’t keep him out of the match. He was in a lot of pain in the 3rd Test,” Doeschate said.
He added that the team is taking no risks and wants Pant fully fit before handing him the gloves.
“Keeping is the last part of the recovery process. We need to make sure he can keep and we don’t have a situation where we have to replace the keeper halfway through an innings,” he added.
Pant did not train on Thursday and was given additional rest. The team hopes to ease him back slowly without triggering a repeat of the Lord’s situation.
“He rested today, and we want to give him time to rest his finger. He is in the equation, but if he is fit, he plays the next Test,” he added.
India are currently trailing 1–2 in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy and are looking to level the series in the fourth Test at Old Trafford next week.
