Rishabh Pant made his much-anticipated red-ball comeback with a scintillating 90 to guide India A to a hard-fought three-wicket victory over South Africa A in the opening four-day match on Sunday. The India captain’s knock laced with authority and aggression set the tone for a spirited chase as the hosts overhauled the target of 275 to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Resuming on the final batting at a shaky 119 for four, India A still needed 166 runs to win. Pant (90 off 113 balls, 11 fours, 4 sixes) and Ayush Badoni (34 off 47) attacked with intent and stitched a blistering 63-run stand that got India going. Pant started the day in typically flamboyant fashion as he smashed 14 runs off Okuhle Cele – including a one-handed six and some deft late cuts.
With the pair holding the scoreboard at six runs apiece, South Africa A were forced to abandon their full lengths and resort to short slip bowling. The change in tactics eventually worked as Pant, hurried by a sharp bouncer from Tiaan van Vuuren, mis-pulled to Lesego Senokwane when he was earlier dismissed for 80. Still, the keeper-batsman’s efforts, coupled with his 139 overs behind the stumps earlier in the match, will no doubt please the South African selectors in the upcoming Test series against India later this month.
Badoni fell soon after and beat the bouncers to fine leg while Tanush Kotian (23 off 30) perished before lunch attempting a pull. India A added 101 runs in the first over but slumped to 216 for seven, still 59 runs adrift of victory.
The script then turned to the lower order. Manav Suthar (20 not out) and Anshul Kamboj (37 not out) went at it with a mixture of guts and strike. Hit on the helmet by van Vuuren, Kamboj defiantly responded with a six and a four off the very next delivery. Later, Suthar was also hit on the shoulder but held firm and showed admirable determination.
Their unbeaten 60-run partnership took India A home in nervy fashion, with Suthar sealing victory by blasting Prenelan Subrayen over mid-wicket for a boundary. The win not only underlined the depth of India A’s fightback, but also reaffirmed Pant’s readiness for red-ball cricket after a long injury lay-off.
The second four-day match will be played at the BCCI Center of Excellence from Thursday, with India A watching the series.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
November 2, 2025
