India’s Test captain Rishabh Pant is back in the squad for the upcoming South Africa series, as announced by the BCCI on Wednesday, November 5. Pant had been sidelined due to an injury sustained during the England tour but recently returned to action in the India A vs South Africa A series.
The 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batter impressed in the first India A vs South Africa A match, leading from the front as captain and guiding his team to victory. Pant had suffered the injury during the Manchester Test when he was hit on the foot by a delivery from Chris Woakes and underwent rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
In the Test squad, Pant will serve as deputy to Shubman Gill, while Dhruv Jurel, who shone in the West Indies series, is the second-choice wicketkeeper. Axar Patel also makes a return to the side, replacing Prasidh Krishna, while Akash Deep rejoins the team after missing the West Indies Tests.
India will face a full-strength South African side, led by Temba Bavuma, following their 1-1 draw in Pakistan. India’s 15-member squad for the series includes 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.
