NEW DELHI: India captain Rishabh Pant gave relief to the team management and fans after he returned to bat later in the day, easing the injury problems that arose when he was forced to retire hurt during the third day of the four-day match against South Africa A at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru on Saturday.Go beyond with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Pant, who hit 17 off 22 balls, was forced to retire during the morning session after being hit several times by South African opener Chepa Moreka. The left-hander was hit on the helmet while attempting a backswing, then on the right elbow and finally on the stomach, each blow leaving him in noticeable pain. The team’s physios monitored him on all three occasions before head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar decided to call him back to the pavilion as a precaution, despite Pant’s willingness to continue.After his exit, Dhruv Jurel came on as a substitute and Pant was seen left-handed. A team official later confirmed that Pant could return if needed, and true to that, he came out to bat again after Harsh Dubey’s dismissal – an encouraging sign ahead of India’s upcoming Test series against South Africa.
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Pant’s temporary retirement has created a stir as he is included in India’s senior squad for the two-Test home series against South Africa, starting on November 14 in Kolkata, followed by the second leg in Guwahati on November 22.The India A captain is on his way back to full fitness after breaking his toe in July. Earlier in the series, he scored a smooth 90 in the opener, marking a confident return to red-ball cricket. His decision to resume batting on Saturday reaffirmed his commitment and resilience – bringing a huge sigh of relief to India’s selectors and fans ahead of the home Tests.
