Will Rishabh Pant Bat On Day 5 Of Manchester Test? Batting Coach Gives Big Update
Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has confirmed Rishabh Pant will bat on the final day of the Manchester Test.
Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has confirmed that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will take the crease, if needed, on the final day of the fourth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test in Manchester.
Pant was diagnosed with a metatarsal fracture after being hit on the right foot by England pacer Chris Woakes on the first day of the Test. He has been advised to rest for six weeks, and while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s medical team has asked him not to keep wickets, he has continued to bat.
'Rishabh Pant will bat tomorrow," Kotak said in the press conference after the fourth day's play on Saturday.
Even in India's first innings, he came back to bat at 38 to add 16 more runs to the team's score, including a big six off Jofra Archer. He was welcomed to the ground with a standing ovation by the Old Trafford crowd and defiantly went about his brief stint, even if it meant limping and hobbling for every run.
Though Dhruv Jurel has joined in to keep wickets, ICC rules don't allow him to bat or bowl in Pant's place.
Pant's availability would be a huge boost for India
India could not ask for more from Pant if he can come out to bat on the fifth day. The situation for his team is dire at best. They conceded a confidence-shattering 311-run lead in the first innings and were then reduced to 0/2 by Chris Woakes in the first over, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan going on back-to-back balls.
Captain Shubman Gill and KL Rahul steadied the ship with a couple of near-flawless knocks. Gill hit 78 (167) while Rahul scored 87 (210) and together they took the team to 174/2 at Stumps. However, the team is still 137 runs in deficit and will need as many contributions as they can find to scrape a draw.
The series is in England's favor by the margin of 2-1 and losing the Test would end India's hopes. If they can remain unbeaten for long enough, it'll allow them the chance to hold England to a draw with a win in the final Test, which begins on July 31.
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First Published:
July 26, 2025, 23:41 IST
News cricket Will Rishabh Pant Bat On Day 5 Of Manchester Test? Batting Coach Gives Big Update
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