Ravi Shastri, the former India cricketer and head coach, believes Rishabh Pant should sit out the fourth Test against England if he isn’t fully fit. Pant injured his finger on the opening day of the third Test and did not keep wickets for the remainder of the match, with Dhruv Jurel replacing him. Although India are 1-2 behind in the series, the team management is thinking about including Pant in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester.

However, Shastri has voiced his concerns, warning that rushing Pant back into action could worsen his injury. India’s assistant coach, Ryan Ten Doeschate, hinted that Pant could play as a batter. Shastri believes the best option is to rest Pant and focus on preparing him for the series decider at The Oval.

“He’ll have to field, and if that happens, it could make things worse. With the gloves, there’s some level of protection, but without them, any impact could aggravate the injury. He’ll be required to keep and bat, and he can’t do just one of those. If it’s a fracture, the best course is rest, so he’s ready for The Oval. If it’s not, he has about nine days to recover,” Shastri told the ICC.

Rishabh Pant has been in stellar form this series, becoming only the second wicketkeeper to score centuries in both innings of a Test match.

He also played a key role in India’s victory in the second Test, scoring 65 in the second innings, helping India win by 336 runs and level the series 1-1. In the third Test, Pant contributed 74 (112) in a crucial partnership with KL Rahul. With 425 runs from three matches at an average of 70.83, he remains a key figure in the series as India aim level it in the upcoming fourth Test starting July 23.