Rishabh Pant is set to make his long-awaited return to India’s Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against South Africa, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Wednesday.
The wicketkeeper-batter missed the 2-0 series drubbing of West Indies last month after fracturing his foot during a test match against England in September, with Dhruv Jurel stepping in to keep wickets.
Pant proved his match fitness in style last week in a game between India A and South Africa A in Bengaluru, where the 28-year-old scored 90 in the second innings to guide his team to a three-wicket victory.
Fast bowler Akash Deep also makes a return to the squad after missing the Caribbean tour. Several senior players, including captain Shubman Gill and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, will rejoin the squad after completing the ongoing T20I series in Australia.
The first Test against South Africa begins in Kolkata on November 14, followed by the second in Guwahati from November 22.
For South Africa, skipper Temba Bavuma returns after recovering from a calf injury that had ruled him out of the Pakistan series last month.
India currently sit third in the World Test Championship standings, while defending champions South Africa occupy fourth place.
India squad for South Africa Tests:
Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain, wicketkeeper), 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, Akash Deep.
(with agency input)