Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 5: Wicketkeeper-batter and India vice-captain Rishabh Pant has made a comeback to the national Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against South Africa, beginning November 14 in Kolkata, the BCCI announced on Wednesday.
The second Test will be played in Guwahati from November 22, marking the city’s debut as a Test venue. The squad was finalised during an online meeting of the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, as previously reported.
Pant replaces N. Jagadeesan, while pacer Akash Deep returns in place of Prasidh Krishna. Pant missed India’s 2-0 Test series win over the West Indies earlier this year while recovering from a foot fracture sustained during the fourth Test against England in Manchester in July.
Proving his fitness, the 28-year-old led India A to a thrilling win over South Africa A in a four-day match at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru, scoring 90 runs in the second innings during a successful chase of 275.
Akash Deep, who underwent rehab for a back injury after the England tour, also makes a strong return following consistent domestic performances. He featured in the Irani Cup for Rest of India and in Bengal’s Ranji Trophy fixtures against Uttarakhand and Gujarat, taking four wickets.
India currently stand third in the World Test Championship (WTC) table with 61.90% points, while South Africa are fifth with 50%, following their recent 1–1 series draw in Pakistan.
Following the Test series, the two teams will also contest three ODIs and five T20Is.
Meanwhile, the BCCI announced the India A squad for a three-match 50-over series against South Africa A, to be played in Rajkot on November 13, 16, and 19.
Left-handed batter Tilak Varma will lead the side, with Ruturaj Gaikwad serving as his deputy. The squad includes several capped players such as Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Ishan Kishan, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Khaleel Ahmed.
India’s Test Squad:
Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK) (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep
India A Squad:
Tilak Varma (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Manav Suthar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed, Prabhsimran Singh (WK)