Rishabh Pant Makes Comeback To India’s Test Squad for South Africa Series

New Delhi: Star wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant on Wednesday marked his comeback to international cricket after a foot fracture, making a much-anticipated return to India’s Test squad for the two-match home series against South Africa. Pant had suffered the fracture during the fourth Test against England in Manchester in July and had to withdraw from the next series against the West Indies.

The 26-year-old batsman captained India A to a win over South Africa A in a four-day match in Bengaluru recently, scoring 90 in the second innings in the 275-run chase.

He replaced N Jagadeesan in the 15-man squad led by Shubhman Gill.

Bengal pacer Akash Deep was also recalled to the Test fold after recovering from his shoulder injury. He recently made a comeback to competitive cricket by playing in Ranji Trophy and Irani Trophy.

He is also part of the India A squad that will face South Africa A in the second four-day match, which starts on Thursday in Bengaluru.

While India’s pace attack includes Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, the spin department will once again rely on experienced Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar.

The first Test will be played in Kolkata on November 14 and the second in Guwahati on November 22.

India’s Test squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK) (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav and Akash Deep.