New Delhi: Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is expected to feature for Delhi in the second round of the Ranji Trophy, starting October 25, as he looks to make his comeback to the Indian Test side for the two-match series against South Africa in November. Pant had been sidelined due to a foot injury sustained during the fourth Test of India’s tour of England in Manchester, reported ESPNCricinfo on Wednesday.
This aligns with hints made by chief selector Ajit Agarkar last month in Dubai while announcing the squad for the ongoing home series against West Indies, which marks the start of India’s home season.
Pant had injured his foot while attempting an audacious shot off a yorker from English pacer Chris Woakes. Despite the injury, he returned to bat in India’s first innings to help the team add crucial runs. Pant went on to score a valuable half-century, aiding India in drawing the fourth Test and keeping the series alive. India eventually won the final Test by six runs at The Oval, securing a hard-fought series draw.
The wicketkeeper-batter is reportedly in the final stages of his rehabilitation and is scheduled for a fitness assessment at Bengaluru’s BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) later this week. While he can move without discomfort, Pant is continuing mobility exercises and weight training to strengthen his foot and has also resumed batting.
If cleared, Pant could join the Delhi squad for their campaign opener against Hyderabad on October 15. However, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has termed him “slightly doubtful” for this fixture.
Pant had a stellar series in England, scoring 479 runs in four matches, including two centuries and three fifties, at a strike rate of 77.63, finishing as the sixth-highest run-scorer in the series.
In his absence, India has been relying on Dhruv Jurel as the first-choice wicketkeeper in the West Indies series. The UP youngster impressed with a brisk 125 in Ahmedabad, combining strong batting with sharp keeping, earning praise from fans and experts alike, with some suggesting he could feature as a specialist batter. N Jagadeesan has also been named as a backup keeper. Pant will miss the white-ball tour to Australia starting October 19, as he has yet to receive a “return to play” certificate from the CoE.
Pant could potentially captain Delhi when he plays. Currently, the team is led by Ayush Badoni, Pant’s teammate at Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
