After the defeat in the Lord’s Test, Team India is now fully engaged in preparations for the fourth Test match, which will be held in Manchester.
Currently, under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, India is trailing 1-2 in the five-match Test series.
So far, Rishabh Pant has played a crucial role in the series. His fearless batting has put pressure on the opposition, and his ability to score freely has made him a key figure in the Indian lineup.
However, Pant suffered a finger injury during the third Test while wicketkeeping, raising questions about his availability for the next match.
Will Rishabh Pant Play in Manchester?
In the first innings of the Lord’s Test, Pant showcased brilliant batting, scoring 74 runs, including 2 sixes. However, he injured his finger while wicketkeeping in the same innings, which forced him to leave the field.
As a result, Dhruv Jurel took over the wicketkeeping responsibilities for the remainder of the match. Although Pant did bat again in the second innings, he couldn’t make a significant impact.
With growing concerns about his injury, a major update has come from Team India’s assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate.
He stated, “Pant batted with a lot of pain at Lord’s. The team doesn’t want to go through that situation again. We don’t want to change the wicketkeeper in the middle of a match. Pant didn’t participate in today’s practice session because we want to give him maximum rest. We hope he will be ready to play in Manchester.”
Sehwag’s Record in Pant’s Sight
If Rishabh Pant is fit and plays in the fourth Test, he will have a golden opportunity to break a long-standing record held by Virender Sehwag.
Sehwag holds the record for the most sixes by an Indian in Test cricket, with 91 sixes to his name. Pant has already hit 88 sixes in Tests, and if he manages to smash 4 or more sixes in Manchester, he will surpass Sehwag to become India’s leading six-hitter in Test history.
