In July, Rishabh Pant sustained a foot injury while playing in the fourth Test against England in Manchester. Since then, he has worked hard to regain his fitness and hasn’t wasted any time in doing so. Recently, he captained India ‘A’ in a four-day match against South Africa ‘A’ and played a pivotal role in leading his team to victory. His match-winning performance has earned him a call-up to the Indian Test squad for the upcoming series against South Africa, which begins on 14th November in Kolkata.
Last week, in Bengaluru at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, Pant led India in their first four-day match against South Africa ‘A’. Chasing a target of 275 runs in the second innings, he scored a crucial 90 runs to guide his team to victory. Pant replaces N Jagadeesan in the squad.
In October, Akash Deep was called up to the Indian team in place of Krishna, who was part of the victorious West Indies series where India won 2-0.
Currently, India’s Test captain Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar are in Australia for the ongoing T20 series. They are scheduled to join the Test squad after completing the five-match series on 8th November.
India’s Test Squad:
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill (Captain) | Batsman |
| Rishabh Pant (Vice Captain) | Wicketkeeper-Batsman |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batsman |
| Lokesh Rahul | Batsman |
| Sai Sudharsan | Batsman |
| Devdutt Padikkal | Batsman |
| Dhruv Jurel | Batsman |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| Washington Sundar | All-rounder |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Bowler |
| Axar Patel | All-rounder |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | Bowler |
| Mohammed Siraj | Bowler |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler |
| Akash Deep | Bowler |
This marks a significant development in Pant’s recovery and return to the national squad, showcasing his resilience and leadership skills.