Manchester Test: Will injured Rishabh Pant bat in the second innings? Coach answers
Will Rishabh Pant bat in the second innings of the ongoing Test with a fracture in his foot? What even is that question, one would wonder. However, those familiar with Pant the fighter know that it's a query that can have two answers. The fractured foot didn't stop the Indian wicketkeeper-batter from hobbling his way to the pitch in the first innings of the Manchester Test. The only way that Pant could be forced to sit back in the second is if the injury has worsened and it's impossible to put up a fight. Fortunately, the injury has not yet grown enough in stature to shackle Pant. Ahead of Day 5 of the fourth India vs England Test, India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, answered whether Pant would come out to bat on the final day.
Rishabh Pant will bat in the second innings of the Manchester Test
Rishabh Pant injured his right foot while batting in the opening innings of the Manchester Test. Attempting a reverse sweep, Pant miscued the shot as the cherry hit his ankle. What initially looked like swelling and a scratch rendered Pant unable to leave the field on his own. It was later confirmed that the impact of the red ball had fractured Pant's right foot. However, despite the severe injury, Pant came out to bat on Day 2 of the match.
The wicketkeeper-batter scored a half-century, playing with his fractured foot. While it seems tricky for Rishabh Pant to be fit for India upcoming matches, there is a positive update on the matter currently at hand. As it's the visitors’ turn to fight against the mammoth lead set by England, India's batting coach has confirmed that Pant will come out to bat again in Manchester.
"Rishabh will bat tomorrow," said Kotak after stumps on Day 4.
India's bowling attack remained largely impactless against the hosts in the fourth India vs England Test. Batting against the 358-run total of India, England scored 669 runs by Day 4 of the Manchester Test. The innings witnessed Joe Root toppling the run charts, scoring 150 and eclipsing the likes of Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest Test run-scorer.
Moreover, the English captain, Ben Stokes, concluded his two-year-long century drought in the format, getting to his 14th Test hundred on Day 4 of the contest. The brilliant show by the English lineup helped the hosts impose a 311-run lead over the guests. Trouble mounted further for India as the second innings started shortly before lunch on the penultimate day.
Chris Woakes scalped two wickets off consecutive deliveries in the first over as Yashasvi Jaiswal departed for a 4-ball duck and Sai Sudharsan left for a golden duck. The first-over collapse left India reeling at 0/2 against the towering lead. However, KL Rahul and captain Shubman Gill steadied the innings from there onwards.
The duo knitted a 174-run partnership on the trot as India finally topped two sessions against the dominating hosts. India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, also praised the leadership of the captain and the resilience of Rahul. The coach highlighted how the two batters anchored the innings after the early dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan, both departing in the very first over without scoring.
"A five-day wicket will have wear and tear but it is playing fine barring the odd ball turning. They batted with a lot of belief and determination. It is tough when you lose two early wickets. But I think at lunchtime also, they had that belief that we will take some time, see first 10-15 overs and then take it from there. So, absolutely brilliant the way they batted," Kotak said.
At the close of Day 4, India was 174 for 2 with Rahul and Gill batting at 87 and 78 respectively. While a win has been virtually ruled out from here, the partnership is crucial for India to keep the series alive. Meanwhile, with the update on Pant's availability for the second innings, the guests finally appear to have gained a level ground in the Manchester Test, albeit a bit late. India still trails 137 runs behind the hosts.
