After months of recovery, Rishabh Pant returns to competitive cricket as India A skipper for the South Africa A tour.
Rishabh Pant is all set to script a new chapter in his cricketing journey as he gears up to lead India A against South Africa A at home, starting October 30. After enduring months of rehabilitation following a serious injury sustained during India’s series against England earlier this year, Pant will look to comeback in great touch and wear the India senior men’s jersey soon.
The wicketkeeper-batter, known for his fearless strokeplay and superb energy behind the stumps, now faces a crucial phase in his career. Having battled both physical and mental challenges on his long road to recovery, Pant’s comeback is as much about regaining match fitness as it is about reclaiming his place in the national side.
Pant’s injury to Dhruv Jurel’s rise
Pant’s injury, sustained during the early part of 2025 while playing against England, had ruled him out of action for months. His absence left a significant void in India’s Test setup, one that was later filled by the young Dhruv Jurel. The 24-year-old from Uttar Pradesh grabbed the opportunity with both hands, impressing everyone with his assured glovework, calm temperament, and growing maturity as a batter under pressure.
Watching from the sidelines was never easy for Pant. As someone who feeds off adrenaline and aggression, being forced into stillness was perhaps the toughest challenge of his life. His slow, methodical return through physiotherapy and fitness regimes at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) has finally borne fruit. But with his return now coinciding with Jurel’s rise, the challenge ahead is far from simple.
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Match fitness and rhythm
More than his trademark six-hitting, Pant’s immediate priority will be to regain match fitness. The India A series will offer him the crucial opportunity to find rhythm and rediscover confidence in the middle.
Long rehabilitation periods can rust even the most talented cricketers. For someone like Pant, whose game depends heavily on reflexes and instinct, re-establishing timing, movement behind the stumps, and physical agility will be essential.
The selectors and team management will primarily be keen to assess how well Pant moves in match conditions, crouching for long sessions, diving, collecting sharp takes, and running quick singles.
Rishabh Pant’s explosive batting has defined several iconic Test victories for India, from Gabba to Cape Town. But his return might require a slightly tempered approach. With months away from top-flight cricket, making quick adjustments to pace, bounce, and match scenarios will be vital.
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Dhruv Jurel factor
Pant’s return also comes at a time when India’s wicketkeeping bench strength is perhaps at its best in recent memory. Dhruv Jurel’s steady rise, particularly in Test cricket, has added a refreshing dimension to India’s keeping standards. His performance behind the stumps in the recent away series was lauded by veterans for his composure and precision.
Jurel’s batting, though still evolving, has shown promising signs, his ability to hold an innings together and adapt to Test match tempo has impressed the team management. While Pant brings the x-factor with his aggression and match-turning ability, Jurel adds discipline, technical neatness, and stability.
This healthy competition may shape into one of the most defining selection discussions in Indian cricket for 2026 – whether India will go with Pant’s explosiveness or Jurel’s steadiness, or perhaps find a middle path where both players coexist, one as a designated keeper and the other as a specialist batter.
Eyes on red-ball comeback
While India play an intense white-ball season ahead, Pant’s realistic and most impactful comeback target remains the red-ball format. Test cricket is where his game – bold, unstructured yet brilliant – has historically shone. The selectors have always valued his ability to change the course of a Test within a session, particularly away from home.
However, with several other players also in the mix, Pant will need to rebuild his case from the ground up, starting with runs and fitness in the India A series. The next domestic fixtures and potential Ranji appearances could become stepping stones toward reclaiming the coveted Test gloves.
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