Cricket fans have reason to cheer as dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is officially making his much-awaited comeback, stepping up to captain the India A squad for a two-match four-day series against South Africa A. This return is a significant milestone for Pant, who has been rigorously recovering from a toe injury he picked up during India’s tour of England.
His injury had previously kept him off the field, causing him to miss both the home Tests against the West Indies and the ongoing limited-overs matches in Australia. Although Pant was earlier named in the Delhi Ranji Trophy squad for a game against Himachal Pradesh on October 25th at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, his new role with India A for the unofficial Test on October 30th suggests he might have to forgo the domestic fixture.
The injury that sidelined Pant occurred during the England tour when a Chris Woakes yorker struck his toe on the first day of the Manchester Test. This forced him to miss the final match of the five-Test series, which concluded in a 2-2 draw.
Since then, Pant has been under meticulous medical supervision, adhering strictly to a structured fitness and rehabilitation program. Receiving clearance from the BCCI medical team is a testament to his hard work and marks a pivotal moment in his journey back to elite cricket.
Beyond Pant’s return, the India A squad boasts other promising talents, including Mumbai opener and India U-19 captain Ayush Mhatre, and the skilled off-spinner Tanush Kotian.
The two four-day matches against South Africa A are scheduled for October 30th and November 6th, both to be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.
India A squad for the 1st four-day match: Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagdeesan (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain.
India A squad for the 2nd four-day match: Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.