Pant, who made 74 and nine in the third Test at Lord\u2019s, was in immense pain after being hit on the left index finger during day one\u2019s play and did not keep wickets for the rest of the match. In his absence, substitute keeper Dhruv Jurel donned the keeping gloves.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI don't think he (Pant) should go in as a specialist batter if he can't keep because he'll have to field, and if he fields, that'll be worse. It\u2019s because with the gloves, at least there's some protection. Without gloves, if he gets something that stings him there, then it won't be very good. It'll worsen the injury,\u201d said Shastri in a video posted on ICC\u2019s Instagram account on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After India suffered a 22-run defeat to go 1-2 down in the five-match series against England, captain Shubman Gill had said Pant will be fit to play in Manchester. During the team\u2019s practice session at Beckenham on Thursday, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate had said the team is giving Pant as much time as possible to recover and be fit to take the field in Manchester.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI don't think he (Pant) should go in as a specialist batter if he can't keep because he'll have to field, and if he fields, that'll be worse. It\u2019s because with the gloves, at least there's some protection. Without gloves, if he gets something that stings him there, then it won't be very good. It'll worsen the injury,\u201d said Shastri in a video posted on ICC\u2019s Instagram account on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen 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 better if he's fully fit. If it's not a crack, I think he'll play. If it's not a crack, there's still about eight or nine days, he should be okay,\" concluded Shastri.<\/p>\r\n\r\n