Rishabh Pant makes brave comeback to crease after injury as BCCI issues medical update
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Rishabh Pant, who walked out of the field after sustaining several blows to his body, is now back on the field and has resumed batting for India A. He scored his half-century alongside centurion Dhruv Jurel.
India A have picked Rishabh Pant as their skipper over the two unofficial Test matches against South Africa A to mark his comeback journey in the longest format of the game. He has also made his return to the red-ball format with the South Africa series and has been named as the vice-captain.
Rishabh Pant had sustained an injury against premier fast bowler Chris Woakes during the England tour. He led them to a dominant victory in the first unofficial Test, where he scored 90 in the second innings to help India earn a three-wicket victory.
Rishabh Pant returns to the field after sustaining early blows
Rishabh Pant was part of the India A innings during the second unofficial Test against South Africa A. Pant scored 17 runs before he was hit on the head, his left elbow, and lastly his lower abdomen and had to leave the field.
He had a talk with the physio before walking off the ground and was then closely monitored after being forced to retire hurt on the third day of the four-day game between the two teams.
"The team physios are observing him, and they will take a call whether he can bat or not, if the match situation comes to that," a team official had told PTI before Pant made his return to the field.
Pant, being the competitor he usually is, wanted to continue batting but was taken off as a precautionary measure so that they could ensure his participation and return to international cricket with the Test series against South Africa.
Pant retired hurt after getting struck thrice❗️
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 8, 2025
But he's back at the crease now and has resumed batting against South Africa A pic.twitter.com/PaUdMT7UbV
Dhruv Jurel is making it tough for Gautam Gambhir with twin hundreds against South Africa A
Dhruv Jurel has been the star for India in Rishabh Pant's absence, and the young wicket-keeper batsman has been making a statement with the bat since the West Indies Test series. With a terrific maiden hundred and a strong 40+ score in the West Indies tour, Jurel further boomed with confidence as he was added as KL Rahul's backup for the Australia tour.
Jurel returned to India and, alongside KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav, joined the India A team for the second unofficial Test. In the first innings, he was the sole dominating batter with an unbeaten century in the innings.
He did not end his dominance there, as the batter seemed to have begun his second innings from where he left off in the first. Another innings and another first-class century for Dhruv Jurel. He is tightening his grip on an Indian spot despite Rishabh Pant's return to the Indian team.
The South Africa tour is about to begin on the 14th of November, with the first Test scheduled to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Harsh Dubey and Dhruv Jurel stage a 150-run partnership for the 6th wicket
After India A looked somewhat troubled with their top order dismissed early, and their skipper was sent back with a looming injury threat, Dhruv Jurel arrived alongside Harsh Dubey to stage a stunning 6th-wicket partnership.
Dhruv scored his second hundred of the match in consecutive innings and was amazingly backed by Harsh Dubey, who played a stupendous knock under pressure. He amassed 84 runs off just 116 balls before his dismissal brought Pant back to the crease.
Rishabh Pant scored 65 off just 54 balls. On his return, he scored 48 off just 32 balls and was dismissed after having hit 5 fours and 4 sixes with a strike rate of 120.37.
Tagged:
India A National Cricket Team India A vs South Africa A South Africa A vs India A Rishabh Pant Dhruv Jurel Harsh Dubey South Africa National Cricket Team
