MUMBAI :The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming two-match home Test series against South Africa, with the major highlight being the return of wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant.
Pant, the team’s vice-captain, has been included in the squad after successfully recovering from a foot injury he sustained during the fourth Test of India’s away series against England in July. He subsequently missed the two-match home series against the West Indies last month.
The 28-year-old’s inclusion was confirmed following a successful demonstration of his match fitness while leading the India A side.
“The squad marked the return of vice-captain Pant, who has been out of action since sustaining a foot injury… He recently showcased his match fitness by captaining India A to victory in the first four-day game against South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, where he scored a crucial 90 in the second innings as India A successfully chased down a target of 275,” a source close to the selection committee stated.
The two-match Test series, which is a key part of the current World Test Championship cycle, is scheduled to commence on November 14 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The second Test will be held at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati.
The squad, led by Captain Shubman Gill, sees Pant resume his role as the deputy and first-choice wicketkeeper. Pacer Akash Deep also makes a return to the Test fold after his own recovery from injury.
Captain Shubman Gill. Vice-Captain Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), Batters Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, All-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar ReddyFast Bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Spinner Kuldeep Yadav
The return of Pant provides a significant boost to the batting line-up as India looks to strengthen its position in the World Test Championship standings against the reigning World Test Champions, South Africa.
