Huge injury scare for India as Rishabh Pant retires hurt after taking body blows during second unofficial test against SA A

Rishabh Pant is captaining India A in the unofficial test series against South Africa A.

Indian Cricket Team‘s wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant suffered an injury scare during the ongoing second unofficial test between India A and South Africa. Pant is captaining India A in the encounter, which is underway at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) ground in Bengaluru.

In the first session of day 3 on Saturday, November 8, Pant was struck three times on his body and helmet by Proteas pacer Tshepo Moreki. He was first hit on his helmet, second time on his left elbow, and then on his abdomen. The incident occurred in the 34th over of India A’s second innings and Pant was seen in pain every time the ball hit him.

Although Pant was keen to continue his batting, India A coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar and team physio took him off the field as a precautionary measure. Before getting retired hurt, he scored 17 runs off 22 deliveries.

Rishabh Pant has been named in India squad for South Africa test series

Notably, the 28-year-old has been named in India squad for the test series against South Africa. Both sides are scheduled to lock horns in two games starting November 14, with the opening game at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

The left-handed batsman sustained a foot injury during the fourth test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 and was ruled out of the fifth game. He underwent a two-month rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) and was also ruled out of the home test series against the West Indies last month.

After recovering from his foot injury, he was appointed as India A captain for the unofficial test series against South Africa A. Smacking a 90-run knock in the first game, he proved his match fitness to selectors and was eventually picked for the test series against South Africa.

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