Exciting news for Indian cricket fans — Rishabh Pant is back! The wicketkeeper-batter makes his long-awaited return to competitive cricket, and it’s bringing smiles all around. Pant will lead India A in a two-match red-ball series against South Africa A, officially confirmed by the BCCI
Official Announcement from BCCI
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squads for the two four-day matches. These games are a significant step in Pant’s comeback journey after his injury layoff.
Both matches will take place in Bengaluru, at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
- First Match: October 30 to November 2, starting at 9:30 AM
- Second Match: November 6 to November 9, also starting at 9:30 AM
India A Squad for the First Four-Day Match
For the first match, Rishabh Pant will captain the team. The selected players include:
- Rishabh Pant (Captain)
- Ayush Mhatre
- N Jagadeesan
- Sai Sudharsan
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Rajat Patidar
- Harsh Dubey
- Tanush Kotian
- Manav Suthar
- Anshul Kamboj
- Yash Thakur
- Ayush Badoni
- Saransh Jain
India A Squad for the Second Four-Day Match
Pant continues as captain for the second match as well. However, there are a few changes in the lineup, with KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel joining the squad. Sai Sudharsan remains the vice-captain for both matches.
Second Match Squad:
- Rishabh Pant (Captain)
- KL Rahul
- Dhruv Jurel
- Sai Sudharsan (Vice-Captain)
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Harsh Dubey
- Tanush Kotian
- Manav Suthar
- Khaleel Ahmed
- Gurnoor Brar
- Abhimanyu Easwaran
- Prasidh Krishna
- Mohammed Siraj
- Akash Deep
Preparation for the South Africa Tour
Currently, the senior Indian team is touring Australia, but upon their return, they will head to South Africa for a full-fledged series. The first Test match is scheduled from November 14 to 18.
These India A matches are a crucial part of the preparations for the Test series, allowing senior Test players to get into rhythm and match practice before the main event.
In summary:
Rishabh Pant’s return as captain marks a major milestone for Indian cricket. The India A vs South Africa A series not only celebrates his comeback but also serves as a vital warm-up platform for India’s Test specialists ahead of their South African challenge.
