New Delhi: In a bold statement ahead of the crucial fifth Test in Manchester, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has voiced strong reservations about Rishabh Pant’s inclusion in the playing XI if he is not fit enough to don the wicketkeeping gloves. Speaking candidly during a cricket analysis segment, Shastri asserted that India “cannot afford the luxury” of fielding Pant purely as a batter in such a high-stakes encounter.

Pant, who has made a remarkable return to international cricket following a near-fatal car accident in 2022, has shown flashes of brilliance with the bat in the ongoing England series. However, his workload and physical readiness have raised questions. In the fourth Test at The Oval, KL Rahul kept wickets while Pant played as a specialist batter.

"Rishabh Pant must play as a wicketkeeper batsman. That is the role he has owned and delivered in time and again," Shastri said. “If he’s not fit enough to keep wickets, he shouldn’t be playing. You can’t have a part-time wicketkeeper in England and expect to win.”

The Indian think tank, including captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid, now face a tricky selection conundrum. While Pant brings X-factor batting in the middle order, playing him without the gloves could disrupt team balance, especially when other in-form batters like Sarfaraz Khan and KS Bharat are waiting in the wings.

India leads the five-match series 2-1, and the Manchester Test presents a chance to seal a historic series win in England. Shastri’s remarks have sparked a debate on fitness standards and team composition, emphasizing that emotional comebacks cannot override strategic decision-making in elite cricket.

As the cricketing world watches closely, all eyes are now on India’s squad announcement for the final Test will Pant feature, and if so, will he wear the gloves?