Pant to captain India A in build-up to SA Test series

Star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is set to make his long-awaited return to competitive cricket as captain of India A in the upcoming two four-day matches against South Africa A, scheduled from October 30 to November 9 at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Pant’s comeback comes after he recovered from a fractured toe sustained during the Manchester Test against England in July earlier this year. The southpaw, who missed the fifth Test in England and India’s subsequent home series against the West Indies, is also expected to reclaim his place in the Test side soon.

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The BCCI on Tuesday announced two separate squads for the two matches, with Sai Sudharsan named vice-captain. Notably, Sarfaraz Khan has been left out of both line-ups.

Given that the series overlaps with India’s limited-overs tour of Australia, the squad for the first match has a distinct Ranji Trophy flavour. Promising 18-year-old Ayush Mhatre earned a call-up alongside Rajat Patidar, while Ayush Badoni retained his place in the India A setup. The batting unit also includes Devdutt Padikkal, Sudharsan and N Jagadeesan.

Among the all-rounders are Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, and Manav Suthar, with Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj and Saransh Jain forming the bowling attack. The quartet of Dubey, Kotian, Thakur and Suthar featured in the recent four-day games against Australia A last month.

The second four-day match will feature a stronger lineup with several Test regulars returning. KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj join the squad, adding experience and depth. Akash Deep, who recently starred in Bengal’s Ranji Trophy opener against Uttarakhand, was also drafted into the side. Khaleel Ahmed and Gurnoor Brar bolster the pace attack.

Mhatre, Patidar, Kamboj, Thakur, Badoni, and Saransh Jain will make way for the senior players in the second fixture.

The first four-day match will be played from October 30-November 2, followed by the second from November 6-9. Following the conclusion of the two matches, the senior India team will battle against the reigning ICC World Test champions in two Tests, with the first match, starting November 14 in Kolkata. The second Test will be played in Guwahati from November 22.

India A squad for 1st four-day match:

Rishabh Pant (C & WK), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagadeesan (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 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.