Tensions flared in the Indian dressing room after wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant suffered an elbow injury in the second unofficial Test against South Africa A. Pant, currently leading A, suffered multiple
body blows before finally retiring hurt in the second innings. He was batting on 17 runs from 22 balls when he was forced to leave the field of play.
Pant’s injury was discussed in the Indian dressing room during the rain break at the Gabba. India was facing Australia in the fifth and final T20I in Brisbane when sudden lightning, followed by incessant rain, stopped the play. Coach Gautam Gambhir was spotted discussing Pant’s injury with his support staff.
Tension….!!! 🥲 pic.twitter.com/AMipKSQqZN
— AB Cricinfo (@ABCricinfo16) November 8, 2025
Rishabh Pant was forced to retire hurt after being struck thrice by South African pacer Tshepo Moraki towards the end of the morning session at the BCCI CoE grounds here. However, he later allayed injury concerns by returning to bat on the third day of the four-day match against South Africa A on Saturday.
Pant’s exit was initially seen as a precautionary move, with a team official confirming that the physios were closely monitoring him. “The team physios are observing him, and they will take a call on whether he can bat or not if the match situation demands it,” the official told PTI earlier in the day.
The sequence of blows began when Moraki’s short delivery hit Pant flush on the helmet as he tried to execute a reverse pull. Soon after, another delivery struck him on the elbow while attempting a conventional pull, and a third one hit him in the abdomen, leaving him in visible discomfort.
Pant received medical attention on all three occasions, but despite his willingness to carry on, India A coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar decided to call him back to the pavilion as a safety measure. His eventual return later in the innings provided relief to the team management, indicating that the injuries were not serious.
