Table of Contents
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed Rishabh Pant’s much-awaited return to leadership duties as captain of the India A side for the upcoming unofficial Tests against South Africa A. The two four-day matches will be hosted at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, beginning on October 30. Pant’s appointment marks his comeback to competitive cricket after recovering from a foot fracture sustained during the England Test series earlier this year. His inclusion signals a crucial step forward in India’s plans as they prepare for a packed home season that includes fixtures across all three formats against South Africa starting November 14.
Rishabh Pant returns as India A captain for South Africa A series
The BCCI’s official release stated that the Senior Men’s Selection Committee finalised two India A squads dedicated to each four-day clash. The series is designed to not only test India’s emerging domestic talent but also give returning senior players a chance to regain match fitness ahead of the senior team commitments.
Pant’s return to the fold comes at a time when India continue to balance workload management and player recovery across formats. The wicketkeeper-batter, who missed several months of competitive cricket, is expected to use the series as a stepping stone towards reclaiming his position in the Test setup.
His presence is also valuable for grooming the younger batting core in red-ball cricket including players like Sai Sudharsan, Ayush Mhatre, and Devdutt Padikkal who have consistently performed in domestic competitions. The selectors have also ensured a balanced line up combining experience and youthful energy to challenge the strong South Africa A unit expected to feature fringe players from the national squad.
Also READ: AUS vs IND: Virat Kohli’s ODI record in Adelaide Oval
Two distinct lineups named for South Africa A unofficial Test matches
The BCCI announcement highlighted the unique decision to name separate squads for each of the two encounters. The first match will primarily feature emerging domestic players with Pant leading a side that includes Mhatre, N Jagdeesan, Sudharsan as vice-captain, and Rajat Patidar. The bowling attack features promising names like Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, and Manav Suthar who have impressed in recent first-class seasons. Sudharsan’s appointment as vice-captain for both matches underlines the selectors’ trust in his leadership qualities and growing stature in the red-ball circuit.
For the second four-dayer starting November 6, the team witnesses a major strengthening with the arrivals of senior players returning from the India-Australia ODI series concluding on October 25. KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Dhruv Jurel, and Prasidh Krishna are all set to join Pant in the lineup, bringing international calibre experience to the squad. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhimanyu Easwaran bolster the top order’s depth, while pacers Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, and Akash Deep round out a versatile fast-bowling unit. This dual-squad approach offers crucial match exposure to a wider pool of players and serves as an ideal selection window before India’s home series against South Africa.