The Indian Cricket team will have to wait a little longer for the return of their star wicket-keeper batsman, Rishabh Pant, who was ruled out of the game during the England series. Pant is expected to return to the Test side but not before the South Africa series, as per the latest report in Dainik Jagran.
Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant has been missing field action ever since he was ruled out following a fracture to his right foot during the fourth Test of the England series. The courageous left-handed batter missed the chance to be part of India’s glorious series-levelling draw at the Oval.
He also missed the Asia Cup 2025 due to the fracture and has been under rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence over the course of the last few weeks. He reported at the CoE on the 15th of September.
Rishabh Pant’s return is delayed, as per the latest reports
After reporting to the CoE, Rishabh Pant underwent several tests and has been under rehabilitation since then. He was seen donning the walking boots, which would lead to the early healing of the wicket-keeper batter.
As per the previous reports on the 15th of September, his boots were to be removed after a week, which means by now the boots would have been removed, and Pant might be gradually training to put more weight on his legs.
However, citing his condition and the speed of recovery, it can be easily predicted that Pant is not going to make his return anytime soon. As a result, he can be expected to miss the upcoming schedule against the West Indies, which starts on the 2nd of October.
Pant is likely to miss the ODI return against the Aussies; Likely to return for Tests against the Proteas
India has a packed schedule this year, with the West Indies tour starting just 4 days after the end of the Asia Cup 2025. After the West Indies home tour, India will travel to Australia for a three-match ODI and five-match T20I series, which is scheduled to start on the 19th of October.
Rishabh Pant might not be available in that white-ball tour as well. As per Abhishek Tripathi’s reports on the Dainik Jagran, Pant would most likely be seen in action from the South Africa series.
The series is one of the biggest home series for India in 2025-26, as it contains two tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is, which are scheduled to begin on the 14th of November. It has been estimated by the CoE medical staff that a minimum of three to four weeks would be needed for Pant to make a return to competitive cricket.
Dhruv Jurel might be roped in as India’s first-choice keeper in the West Indies Tests
While Pant is most likely to be unavailable for the West Indies Test series, this might be an opportunity for players like Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, and Narayan Jagadeesan. Though Sarfaraz is not a keeper, he might be slotted in as a crucial middle-order batter.
However, Dhruv Jurel seems the most ideal option of the three to be included in the Indian lineup. He worked as Pant’s substitute throughout the England series, scored a stunning hundred in the India A vs Australia A multi-day game and has the ability to switch to an aggressive brand of Test cricket much like Rishabh Pant.