Rishabh Pant retires hurt during the second unofficial Test against South Africa A in Bengaluru. His injury raises concerns for India ahead of the South Africa Test series starting November 14, 2025.
Star Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant suffered another injury while batting against South Africa A during the ongoing second unofficial Test at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The incident occurred on Day 3 of the match, forcing Pant to retire hurt and leaving India A with a significant setback.
According to match reports, India A was batting at 108/4 when Pant was struck twice in quick succession. First, he was hit on his left arm, and shortly after, he took a blow to his groin off Tshepo Moreki’s bowling. Despite taking two medical breaks, the star batter could not continue and was replaced by Dhruv Jurel.
Pant’s injury comes shortly after he returned from a three-month layoff sustained during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 against England. In this match, Pant had displayed aggressive batting, scoring 24 runs off 20 balls in the first innings. Before retiring hurt in the second innings, he managed 17 runs from 22 deliveries, including a couple of boundaries and a six, showcasing his signature aggressive style.
Impact on Upcoming South Africa Series
The timing of Pant’s injury has raised concerns for the Indian cricket team, as he was named vice-captain for the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa. India is set to begin the series on November 14, 2025, with the first Test scheduled at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Pant’s absence could affect India’s batting depth and wicket-keeping plans, especially given his recent return from injury and vital role in the squad.
The BCCI recently announced India’s squad for the South Africa series, featuring Shubman Gill as captain, Pant as vice-captain and wicket-keeper, and other key players such as KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Washington Sundar. With Pant’s fitness now uncertain, team management may need to rethink strategy and backup options ahead of the high-stakes Test matches.
Fans and Team Management on Alert
Social media has been flooded with clips of Pant walking off the field, with fans expressing concern over his injury. The timing is especially critical as Pant had been building momentum in domestic and unofficial Test matches to regain match fitness for the multi-format series against South Africa.
While the severity of the injury is yet to be fully assessed, Pant’s early exit from the match highlights the risks India faces just days before the first official Test. Cricket analysts and former players have emphasized the importance of having Dhruv Jurel and other backups ready to step in if needed.
With just under a week to go before India locks horns with South Africa, the team’s medical staff will be under pressure to assess Pant’s condition and determine whether he can participate in the opening Test at Eden Gardens.
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