Rishabh Pant takes the domestic route to announce his comeback ahead of the Australia tour
Rishabh Pant is likely to make his long-awaited return to the field after he was ruled out due to an injury in the England series. PTI reports explore Pant's return plans with the Ranji Trophy 2025. Having been left out of the West Indies as well as the Australia tour, he is paving his way to make an international comeback with the South Africa series.
India is currently featured in the second red-ball series of this WTC cycle against the West Indies, after having levelled the series on English soil. India tied the Test series on the England tour with a 2-2 margin and has begun the West Indies tour with a massive win. The second match in the series is scheduled to start on the 10th of October.
Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant suffered an injury during the England tour after having amassed 479 runs in the series in just 7 innings with an average of 68.42. He had fractured his right foot and was ruled out of the final match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Since then, Pant is yet to make his international comeback.
PTI reports on Rishabh Pant's recovery from injury
Rishabh, having sustained the injury back in Manchester, flew back to India and had a plaster on his foot. After his plaster was removed, the player has been at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Just two days back at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, RevSportz reporter Rohit Juglan had reported that the left-handed batter has resumed batting in the nets and is expected to recover within the next 2 weeks.
“As of now, there is a likelihood he could be cleared by Oct 10. An assessment is due this week. It has been a long recovery for him. The BCCI medical team doesn’t want to take any chances with him,” a BCCI source told TOI.
Rishabh Pant in conversation with DDCA over Ranji Trophy season
The same report went on to suggest that Rishabh Pant has had a word with the current Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president, Rohan Jaitley. He is likely looking forward to the Ranji Trophy season to make a comeback to prepare ahead of the international comeback against South Africa.
“Pant has said he should be available for the Ranji Trophy matches in Delhi from Oct 25. He has conveyed that it will be subject to fitness and clearance obtained from the BCCI medical team,” a top DDCA official told TOI.
Ajit Agarkar is hopeful for Pant's return for the South Africa Tests
While Ajit Agarkar announced the squad for the West Indies series, he hoped for the return of Rishabh Pant for the Baggy Blue ahead of the South Africa Test series.
"With regards to Rishabh, I don't think he's quite made this series. He won't be ready, but like I said, we're hopeful that by the time South Africa comes around, he's 100% fit. Exact timelines... I know he's not going to make these two Test matches, but after that, he's very close to getting fit," Ajit Agarkar stated.
Ravindra Jadeja, the veteran, has been appointed the deputy of skipper Shubman Gill in place of an injured Rishabh Pant.
"Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) has been one of your top performers. With a lot of experience, that's essentially the reason (he was made vice-captain)," Agarkar explained.
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