Rishabh Pant Shouldn’t Play in Manchester, Says Ravi Shastri Amid Injury Concerns

As India prepares for the encounter, the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, the former head coach Ravi Shastri served a great warning: Rishabh Pant shouldn’t play in Manchester unless he is completely fit to perform the wicketkeeping duties. With India trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, the mood is sour, but Shastri’s remarks give a good perspective on the differentiation between which players should be risked and which should not.

This debate on Pant’s availability has been further impinged on because of the finger injury he suffered on Day 1 of the third Test at Lord’s. He did not glove up again in that match, with Dhruv Jurel taking the gloves behind the stumps. The team management certainly wants to include Pant in the playing XI for the fourth Test as a batter-only option, given his blazing form with the bat, even though he has an injury in tow. However, Shastri is pretty straightforward about the contention entirely.

Ravi Shastri Urges Caution

Talking to ICC, Ravi Shastri, who is usually called as godfather for cricket opinions in Indian broadcasting, said that if Pant is not fit enough to keep wickets, he should not play at all.

“Fielding-wise will be worse. There’s some protection with the gloves at least. Without gloves-if he gets something that stings him there-then it’s not going to be very good. It will worsen the injury,” Shastri warned.

He further went on to say that if it indeed is a fracture, then Pant needs to completely rest and get ready for the fifth and final Test at The Oval. “If it be a fracture, then should rest and be prepared for The Oval. Otherwise, he has about nine days to recover, he said,” he added.

This is the kind of caution that modern teams follow to manage a player for longer-term sustainability rather than for short-term returns

Pant’s Batting Form – Too Good to Ignore?

While Shastri thought Rishabh Pant shouldn’t play in Manchester, India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate took a different view. He argued that Pant could be in the mix for selection as a specialist batter owing to the pressure-breaking innings he has played so far in this series.

Concerning form, Pant now makes the selectors’ job difficult. He is the second-highest run-getter in the ongoing series, having made 425 runs so far in three matches at an average of 70.83, with two hundreds and two fifties.

He made history by becoming only the second keeper to score a century in each innings of a Test match in the first Test at Leeds. His 134 and 118 in that game were an example of controlled aggression. In the second Test, which India won by 336 runs, he made a useful 65, while a gritty 74 in the third Test almost brought India back into contention, building a partnership with KL Rahul.

The numbers speak loud and clear that if Rishabh Pant shouldn’t play in Manchester, it has to be because of an injury that is serious enough injury for him not to play; else his bat could always make a difference.

Team India’s Dilemma

Complicating matters further is India’s standing in the series. They trail 1-2 in a must-win fourth Test in Manchester. The batting order is already under pressure for having poor top orders, making Pant’s absence critical to the middle order.

But risking aggravating the injury and losing him for the series, if not forever, would be a long-term concern, maybe even for the ICC World Test Championship cycle. Here, Shastri’s voice, often considered by many in the Indian media circles as the godfather of cricket insights, strikes a balance between emotion and strategy.

The Bigger Picture – Player Management

In the rigorous cricket calendar of today, workload and injury management have become two of the key themes. Shastri’s concern for Pant stems from the reality of it. Havoc in India does have its replacements, if not a Pant, with the likes of KS Bharat or the promising Jurel, both of whom fall way short of the unique combination of raw power, creativity, and confidence that Pant can summon in himself at the crease.

Batting Pant alone means there was also a complication in fielding.. As Shastri rightly pointed out, without gloves, the chances of it breaking down further are higher. Even one misfield or dive could cause setbacks.

While it’s natural to field your best player in a must-win situation, a long-term plan needs to be drawn up for the decision. As Shastri suggests, if he is fit for the fifth Test at The Oval, perhaps he has a greater chance to help India square or win the series.

Final Word

Ravi Shastri’s comments offer some perspective on the Pant issue, the call on whether Rishabh Pant shouldn’t play in Manchester made in a few days. When the player is Pant, who is directly in form, there is always the urge to push the limits since the stakes are accentuated in both the immediate and long-term. Accordingly, management should be aware of the decisions made. 

As the fans prep for the fourth Test, one eye will be on Pant’s fitness updates: will he be playing at Old Trafford? Or will India rest their star keeper to make sure he’s firing again at The Oval?
Stay acquainted with more expert opinions, thoughts from players, and matches only here at Winexch-Your Cricket Centre. 

FAQs

Q1. Why does Ravi Shastri say that Rishabh Pant should not play at Manchester?

According to Shastri, there should be no additional demands on Pant unless he is completely fit, because the fact that he is injured means that if he has to field without his gloves, it would worsen his injury.

Q2. What is Rishabh Pant’s form in the series so far?

He has scored 425 runs at 70.83 in 3 Tests, including making 2 centuries and 2 half-centuries.

Q3. What is the worry about playing Pant as a specialist batter? 

His injury might be aggravated by fielding without a glove, and India will lose a valuable wicketkeeping option as well.

Q4. Who would come in for Pant if he is rested?

Dhruv Jurel or KS Bharat could fill the void in the wicketkeeper-batter category.

Q5. What makes Ravi Shastri the godfather of cricket in India? 

Shastri is an eminent former player and coach, and so the weightage of his opinion is much more significant, given his experience and cricketing knowledge, rather than just an average cricket analyst.