“With the gloves, at least there is some protection. Without gloves, if he gets something that stings in there, then it won’t be very good. It’ll only worsen the injury,” he added.

The former India head coach who oversaw two series wins in Australia, said the team physio also needs to evaluate Pant precisely to determine whether there’s break in the finger.

He also made a verdict that Pant would be better off sitting out the Manchester Test and returning for the final game in Manchester.

“You’ve got to see if it is a break. If it is a break or a fracture, then he rather rests it and comes fully fit at The Oval. He won’t get a substitute now. Now they’ll know that he has been injured,” Shastri said.

“When you pick the team for the next Test, he’ll have to keep and he’ll have to bat. He can’t do one of the two. It’s if it is fully fit. If it is not a crack, I think he’ll play,” Shastri added.

Rishabh Pant has been one of the India’s performer in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophyscoring 425 runs at an average of 70.83 in six innings.

India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate had confirmed that the visitors are looking to give the wicketkeeper-batter as much time as possible to recover.

“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,” ten Doeschate said.

The fourth match of the series will be played between July 23 and 27 at Old Trafford Cricket StadiumManchester.