Star Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant is set to make his return for the national side after being away from action due to injury as the Senior Men’s Selection Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced India A’s squad for the two four-day matches to be played against South Africa at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru.
Pant missed out on the two-match Test series against the West Indies as he was recovering from a fractured left foot, which he had suffered during India’s fourth Test against England in July this year in Manchester. Dhruv Jurel kept wickets in his place.
Pant had been advised six weeks’ rest after suffering the blow from a delivery from fast bowler Chris Woakes while batting on Day 1 of the fourth Test of the rather epic tour, which ended in a 2-2 draw. The Old Trafford Test itself was drawn and Pant had gone off retired hurt but then returned to bat the next day. He ended up scoring 54 runs in 75 balls before falling to Jofra Archer. Pant returned home after the match.
He has been appointed the captain of India A for two four-day games, while Sai Sudharsan has been named his deputy. India U-19 star and Mumbai batter Ayush Mhatre has also been fast-tracked as he finds a place in the first four-day match.
India regulars, KL Rahul, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj will feature in the second match after returning from the Australia tour. The first match will start on October 30, while the second match is scheduled to begin on November 6.
INDIA A SQUAD VS SOUTH AFRICA A
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, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain.
India A squad for the 2nd four-day match: Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
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IND ‘A’ vs SA ‘A’ RED-BALL SERIES SCHEDULE
| South Africa A Tour of India (Red-Ball Format) | |||||||
| S. No. | Date (From) | Date (To) | Time | Match | Venue | ||
| 1 | Thu | 30-Oct-25 | Sun | 02-Nov-25 | 9:30 AM | Multi-Day | BCCI COE |
| 2 | Thu | 06-Nov-25 | Sun | 09-Nov-25 | 9:30 AM | Multi-Day | BCCI COE |
