Will Rishabh Pant play the fourth Test in Manchester? Here’s the latest update

Team India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has opened up on the keeper-batter and vice-captain Rishabh Pant’s availability for the fourth Test against England, scheduled to start on Wednesday, July 23, at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Opening up on Pant’s fitness, Ryan stated that he has been recovering from his finger injury, which he sustained during the third Test at Lord’s. However, his participation as a keeper remains uncertain. 

While Pant is expected to bat in the Manchester Test, Team India might have KL Rahul as a keeper-batter in case Pant doesn’t pass the fitness test to keep wickets. Speaking to the reporters in Beckenham, Ryan said Pant will bat in Manchester.

“He will bat in Manchester before the Test. I don't think you're gonna keep Rishabh out of the Test no matter what. He batted with quite a lot of pain in the 3rd Test, and it's only going to get easier on his finger,” Ryan told reporters.

“Keeping is the last part of the process. We need to make sure that he can keep, we don't want to go through that again where we have to replace the keeper halfway through an innings,” he added.

As Team India had a long practice session at the Beckenham County Ground, Pant decided not to train in order to stay fit and recover in time for the fourth Test. Ryan stated if Pant is fit, he will do both batting and keeping.

“But he rested today, was trying to give the finger as long as possible, and hopefully, he's good to go in Manchester in the first session. He is in the equation, but I mean if he's fit, he plays the next Test and does both,” he stated.

Team India is scheduled to take on England in the fourth and fifth Tests, starting on July 23 and July 31, respectively.

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