Pant will make a strong comeback from injury, will command the team against South Africa 'A'

Mumbai, October 21 (IANS). After staying away from the cricket field for a long time due to injury, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is finally ready to make a comeback. The BCCI selection committee named Pant as the captain of the Indian ‘A’ team for two four-day matches against South Africa. These two four-day matches will be played from October 30 to November 9 at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. Pant suffered a fracture in the metatarsal bone of his right foot during the fourth Test against England at the end of July. Pant, who was sidelined for three months with a broken leg, was expected to return. While attempting a reverse sweep from Chris Woakes, Pant’s right foot was hit by the inside edge, forcing him to retire hurt. After the scan, a fracture in his leg was confirmed. After this, Rishabh Pant could not play in Asia Cup 2025. Furthermore, he also had to stay out of the two Test series against the West Indies. Now Pant also missed the white-ball tour against Australia. Meanwhile, Pant was completing his rehabilitation at the BCCI Center of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru. In Tests, India’s vice-captain Pant scored 479 runs at an average of 68.42 in seven innings on the England tour. During this period, the hundreds scored in both innings of the Leeds Test are also included. Pant scored 3,427 runs for India in 47 Test matches with 8 centuries and 18 fifties. India A squad for the first four-day match: Rishabh Pant (captain/wicketkeeper), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagadeesan (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudarshan (vice-captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Anshul Thani Kamboj, Ayush Thana Kamboj, Saransh Jain. India A squad for the second four-day match: Rishabh Pant (captain/wicketkeeper), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudarshan (vice-captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Aburnil Ahmed, G. Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep. –IANS RSG