Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who was appointed as the vice-captain of India’s Test team on May 24, 2025, is all set to play his first competitive match after more than three months this week. The
28-year-old cricketer from Roorkee, who represents Delhi in domestic cricket, was appointed as India A’s captain for the two four-day matches against South Africa A on October 21, and on Thursday (October 30) he will take the field against South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru.
While Pant, who suffered a foot injury in the fourth India-England Test because of which he remained out of action for three months, is expected to bat at No. 5, it will be interesting to see if he keeps the wicket. In case Pant features in the first four-day game as a specialist batter, then Tamil Nadu’s Narayan Jagadeesan will play as a wicketkeeper-batter.
Jagadeesan replaced Pant in India’s squad for the fifth Test against England and also for the two-match Test series against the West Indies earlier this month but didn’t get a chance to make his India debut.
Mumbai batter Ayush Mhatre is part of the squad, and he is likely to open the innings with Jagadeesan in the first match. B Sai Sudharsan, who has been appointed as Pant’s deputy for the two four-day matches, in all likelihood will bat at No. 3, and there will be a fight for the No. 4 position between Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar. Both Padikkal and Patidar played as No. 4 batters for India against England last year and are in good form as well these days. So it will be a tough decision for the team management.
There is also a possibility of both getting a chance, and if they do, then either Pant will have to bat at No. 6 or one out of Patidar or Padikkal.
Delhi’s Ranji team captain Ayush Badoni is also part of the India A squad for the first match.
The BCCI selectors have included four spin-bowling all-rounders in the squad for the first match, and there is a high chance that at least three will feature in the playing XI as well.
As far as the fast bowlers are concerned, on the basis of seniority, Anshul Kamboj and Khaleel Ahmed are likely to get preference.
India A’s likely playing XI for first unofficial Test: Narayan Jagadeesan (WK), Ayush Mhatre, Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Rishabh Pant (C), Tanush Kotian, Harsh Dubey, Saransh Jain, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed.
India A squad for the 1st four-day match: Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagdeesan (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain
