Star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant gave India a momentary injury scare ahead of next week’s opening Test against South Africa in Kolkata after he was forced to retire hurt while batting for India A against South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Saturday.
During the first session of day three, Pant was struck thrice, on the body and helmet by fast bowler Tshepo Moreki, compelling him to walk off retired hurt on 17 off 22 balls in the 34th over of India A’s second innings.
However, the fears of a serious injury were soon eased when Pant returned to bat in the final session. After Harsh Dubey and Dhruv Jurel stitched a 184-run stand for the sixth wicket, Jurel remaining unbeaten on 127, Pant resumed his innings and attacked the spinners en route to a quickfire 65 before top-edging a slog sweep off left-arm spinner Kyle Simmonds to the wicketkeeper. India A declared at 382 for 7.
Pant had walked out to bat at No. 5 early in the morning session after overnight batter KL Rahul, who resumed on 26, was bowled by an inducker from Okuhle Cele for 27. The left-handed stumper began aggressively, striking three boundaries and a six off Cele in quick succession, before a barrage of short deliveries from Moreki tested his resolve.
Although Pant was keen to carry on, India A coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar and the physio decided to take him off as a precaution. He appeared uncomfortable with limited elbow movement and some visible pain even while playing defensive shots.
He was first hit on the helmet while attempting a reverse pick-up shot off a short delivery from Moreki. He lost balance and fell to the ground, prompting a mandatory concussion test, which he later passed. He took off his helmet, composed himself and continued briefly.
Soon after, another delivery from Moreki thudded into Pant’s right elbow, forcing the physio to administer spray and tape the affected area. The third hit was on his abdomen from a ball that seamed back in, before the management decided to call him in.
Pant, who scored 90 in the second innings of the opening four-day match that India A won last week, has had a tougher outing in the second fixture. In the first innings, he was dismissed for 24 after being rapped on the gloves by another short delivery from Moreki and caught at slip.
At the toss before the ongoing game, Pant had noted it was “98 days since I last played a competitive match”, a period spent recovering from a fractured toe sustained when he was struck by a Chris Woakes delivery during the fourth India–England Test in Manchester in July.
Following surgery, Pant underwent two months of rehab at the Centre of Excellence before returning to action with India A to regain match fitness ahead of the South Africa series.
In his absence, Dhruv Jurel kept wickets during the two home Tests against West Indies and the fifth Test at The Oval, which India won to draw the series 2–2.
India are set to play two Tests against South Africa, the first in Kolkata from November 14 and the second in Guwahati from November 22, marking the city’s debut as a Test venue.