Star India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant eased injury fears after retiring hurt while batting against South Africa A, returning to bat for India A on Day 3 of the second four-day game in Bengaluru. His injury had caused serious concern, with the first Test against South Africa less than a week away.
Pant was taken out as a precautionary measure after he was smacked thrice by Protea pacer Tshepo Moraki towards the end of the morning session at the BCCI CoE grounds in Bengaluru.
Pant was struck flush on the helmet while attempting a reverse pull and later took painful blows to his right elbow and abdomen.
Team physios rushed in to attend to Pant on all three occasions before head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar called him back to the pavilion as a precaution,
despite Pant’s eagerness to carry on.
After his departure, Dhruv Jurel replaced him at the crease, while Pant was later spotted with his left arm strapped.
A team official later confirmed that Pant could return if needed and true to word, he came out to bat again after Harsh Dubey’s dismissal, a reassuring sign ahead of India’s upcoming Test series against South Africa.
Pant’s brief retirement had raised concerns, given his inclusion in India’s senior team for the two-Test home series against South Africa, beginning November 14 in Kolkata, followed by the second game in Guwahati from November 22.
Pant has been working his way back to full fitness after suffering a fractured toe four months ago.
Earlier in the series, Pant showed his form with a fluent 90 in the opening game, signalling a confident return to red-ball cricket.
Meanwhile, Jurel made a strong case for his continued presence in the senior Test XI with his second century in as many innings against South Africa A while fortifying India A’s position on Day 3 of the four-day game in Bengaluru on Saturday, November 8.
