Rishabh Pant could return to Delhi’s Ranji Trophy side on October 25, a move that would put the injured wicket‑keeper‑batter on track for a Test recall in November – when India faces South Africa in two matches. ESPNcricinfo reported that the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) will line up Pant with the team that starts its campaign against Hyderabad on October 15. The DDCA says Pant remains slightly doubtful for that opening game, but the outlook is positive.
Pant missed the last series on the English summer after a foot injury. While attempting a high‑stroke to Chris Woakes’s yorker in the fourth Test at Manchester, the player took a nasty hit to his foot. He returned to the crease for the first innings and scored a valuable half‑century, helping India draw the match and keeping the series alive. The series eventually finished with a win for India in the final Test at The Oval.
Recovery is well underway. Pant has finished his main rehab period and will undergo a fitness test at the Bengaluru BCCI Centre of Excellence later this week. He can now move comfortably, but he is still strengthening his foot with mobility work and weight training while resuming his batting practice.
Pant’s run‑scoring form in England has only added to the urgency. He racked up 479 runs in four innings, including two centuries and three fifties, at a brisk 77.63 strike rate. The wicket‑keeper finished as the sixth‑highest scorer of the series – a performance that left fans and selectors alike hoping for his quick return.
While Pant is abscent, India’s India–West Indies Test series sees Dhruv Jurel wearing the gloves for the first time. The young UP keeper excited the crowd with a blazing 125 in the opening game in Ahmedabad, and many now think he could hone his batting chops separately. N. Jagadeesan also sits on the bench as a backup.
Pant’s missed Australia tour – scheduled to start on October 19 – comes because he has not yet earned a return‑to‑play certificate from BCCI. That decision is likely based on his foot status and the need for a clean bill of health before he travels abroad.
If cleared, the keeper may also lead the Delhi side on the field. Ayush Badoni currently captains the team, but Pant’s leadership experience from the IPL’s Lucknow Super Giants and his experience on the international stage make him a natural choice for skipper when he is back in training.
In short, Pant’s foot is healing, he’s cleared for a quick fitness test, and the DDCA is eyeing him for the next Ranji Trophy round. A successful comeback could see him captain Delhi and, with the Test series against South Africa on the horizon, give India a fresh fit wicket‑keeper-batter for the 2025 season.
Source: aninews
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