India A captain Rishabh Pant is being closely monitored by team physios after he had to withdraw with an injury on the third day of the four-dayer against South Africa A at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru on Saturday. However, initial assessments suggest there is no major cause for concern.
The pants were hit several times by South African pacer Tshepo Moreki during the morning session and was eventually asked to return to the dressing room as a precaution. The left-hander, who was batting 17 off 22 balls, was hit on the helmet, left elbow and stomach in successive spells before being taken off the field.
“The team physios are observing him and will take a call whether he can bat or not if the situation in the match calls for it,” a team official told PTI.
Pant, ever a competitor, reportedly wanted to continue batting, but India A coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar intervened and decided it would be safer for him to walk out. He was later seen on the sideline with his left hand cuffed. Dhruv Jurel replaced him in the wicket.
The incident occurred at the end of the morning session when Moreki, extracting extra bounce from the surface, tested Pant with a short burst. One round hit him in the helmet as he tried to pull back, another hit him in the elbow during a conventional pull, and a third round hit him in the midsection, leaving him visibly in discomfort.
Pant’s early exit raised a brief alarm, especially as he had only recently returned from a three-month layoff due to a broken leg sustained during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in July. The ongoing unofficial Tests against South Africa A mark an important stage in his rehabilitation and return to competitive cricket.
The 27-year-old had earlier impressed with a match-winning knock of 90 off 113 balls in the first unofficial Test to help India A seal a three-wicket victory. His guaranteed return made the selectors do it to include Pant in India’s 15-man squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa.
The first Test between India and South Africa begins at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 14, followed by the second Test in Guwahati from November 22-26.
While Pant’s precautionary exit has raised understandable concerns, team sources have confirmed there are “no serious injury concerns” at this stage and he could return to bat if required.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
November 8, 2025
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