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Should A Half-Fit Rishabh Pant Play In Do-Or-Die 4th Test Vs England At Old Trafford?

Anurag Dasgupta

Should Pant play in Manchester? [Source: @_22Yards/x.com] Should Pant play in Manchester? [Source: @_22Yards/x.com]

The young Indian team has a mountain to climb as they face an uphill battle to salvage the series in the 4th Test match at Old Trafford, Manchester. The young side suffered a heartbreak as they lost the Lord's Test by the barest of margins and now they need to win the 4th Test in order to keep their series win hopes alive.

The Indian keeper suffered a finger injury on Day 1 of the Lord's Test and he didn't keep the wickets afterwards as Dhruv Jurel did the keeping duties in his absence. There is no clarity on whether Pant will play in the do-or-die game in Manchester but keeping in mind all the aspects, Pant should take rest as a precautionary measure and here's why.

Why a half-fit Pant shouldn't play in Manchester

After losing the 3rd Test, India now trail in the series, 1-2, and need to win at Old Trafford to stay alive in the tour. For that to happen, the side needs all 11 players to be at their absolute best. They cannot afford to go into the game with 10.5 players (half-fit Pant). 

In Tests, keeping is an important aspect as the wicket-keeper has to do his duty for more than 100 overs behind the stumps. If Pant's finger injury isn't healed one hundred percent, there is no point in making him do the duties when he cannot give his best. Plus, he looked shaky with the bat in the second innings and it was due to the after-effects of his injury. In that regards, he should take rest and get completely fit before the final Test match.

Even India's assistant coach isn't sure whether Pant will play in the 4th Test or not and hence, there is no need to put him under any risk.

"We're trying to rest the fingers as long as possible, and hopefully he's good to go in Manchester in the first training session," Ryan ten Doeschate on Pant.

Who could replace Pant if he decides to rest?

In the Lord's Test, Dhurv Jurel kept wickets in Pant's absence, and if India's vice-captain misses out on the next game, Jurel will come into action and will be slotted in the playing XI. He looked confident behind the wicket and India will show trust in him.

However, Pant is a valuable asset for India and there is a good chance that he could play in the 4th Test, solely as a pure batter, with Jurel replacing Karun Nair and could play the game as the keeper-batter.