 "Will Rishabh Pant bat at Old Trafford on Day 5? Here's what India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said")
Rishabh Pant will bat despite a nursing a fracture on his right foot, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed on Saturday after the end of the fourth day in the fourth Test against England in Manchester. Pant had braved physical pain to walk out to bat and bring up his 18th Test half-century a day after getting struck on his right foot while attempting to reverse sweep a yorker from pacer Chris Woakes.
Pant’s heroics, along with important lower-order contributions including from Shardul Thakur (41) had ensured India posted 358 in the first innings after England captain Ben Stokes opted to field.
India, however, find themselves with their backs against the wall heading into yet another final day in the ongoing five-Test series and Kotak believes Pant will do his bit to help the visitors salvage a draw and keep the series scoreline at 2-2.
“Rishabh will bat tomorrow,” Kotak told reporters after stumps on the penultimate day of the fourth Test.
The visitors had lost two wickets without opening their account after starting their second innings 311 behind, thanks to England’s mammoth total of 669 that is now the highest Test score at the venue.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAnd even though opener KL Rahul (87 not out) and captain Shubman Gill (78 not out) came to the rescue with an unbroken third-wicket partnership that took India to 174/2 at the close of play, the visitors will need all of their key batters to stand up and delivery on Day 5 to keep the series alive heading into the final Test at The Oval.
Which includes an injured Pant, who is set to bat one last time this series in Manchester, having already been ruled out of the final Test.
Kotak lauds Gill and Rahul for their outstanding partnership at Old Trafford
Kotak meanwhile, hailed Gill and Rahul for the manner in which they defied the English attack for the better part of the fourth day in a challenging situation.
“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 added.
The former Saurashtra cricketer added that a shift in mindset has helped Gill score a lot more freely in England that he did in the tour of Australia in December.
“See, from Australia series to this series, I have also seen his thought process and the way he batted. It is little different than what he has done in Australia. We discussed, but I would give a lot of credit to him for deciding on that wicket, what he wants to play, when he wants to play.
“And I think he successfully played certain shots and successfully avoided playing certain shots,” Kotak added.
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