IND vs SA: Rishabh Pant Is All Set for a Test Return & That's Great News for Shubman Gill

The Test series between India and South Africa begins on November 14 and the home side will be thrilled that Rishabh Pant is going to be back in action. The 28-year-old wicketkeeper batter was out of action due to an injury he sustained in late July in England. While Mohammed Shami failed to make the cut, Pant is back and that is great news for skipper Shubman Gill.

Rishabh Pant Is the Vital Cog in Team India

Be it behind the stumps or in front of them, Pant is the gamechanger Team India always needs, especially in Test cricket. He is what one calls a clutch player and the ability to consistently deliver under pressure is what makes the southpaw stand out. All the more reason by the team management will be happy that he is back.

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Pant is currently leading India A vs South Africa A and while he failed with the bat in the first innings of the 2nd Unofficial Test, he did play well in the previous game. He certainly has the match practice needed ahead of taking guard vs South Africa in Kolkata.

The Aggressive Style of Rishabh Pant’s Batting

The daredevil approach that Pant has towards batting defies conventional Test cricket but it is just what is needed in order to blast the opposition into submission. So his return will be a huge boost to the home side. One must remember that he missed a lot of cricket when he was injured in a near-fatal car crash in late 2022. Pant missed the entirety of 2023 and that included the Asia Cup plus ODI World Cup, His international comeback was the 2024 T20 World Cup which he helped India win.

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The Awesome Test Stats of Rishabh Pant

Pant’s Test numbers are really good. In 47 games he’s batted 82 times and been on five occasions. The left-hander has scored 3427 runs at an average of 44.50 along with eight 100s plus 18 50s. He has the most Test 100s by an Indian keeper and is one of two keepers in Test history to hit a century in each innings of a Test. He’s also the highest century scorer among active Test keepers.

Rishabh Pant India’s Best Keeper-Batter Right Now

At 28, he has a good six to eight years of Test cricket left, provided no more serious injuries happen and he maintains his good form. The series vs South Africa could be the resurgence of his Test career which had come of age in England. Now he will look to get even better and Gill will hope he fires all cylinders while at the same time do well with the gloves. Pant the keeper and batter is the deadly combo that Team India not only wants but very desperately needs.