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Rishabh Pant’s return to competitive cricket after a three-month injury absence will be the main focus of India A’s four-day match against South Africa A, starting Thursday. Pant sustained a foot injury during the fourth Test against England on July 23 and has been undergoing rehabilitation since. He missed the home Test series against the West Indies during this period. However, these two four-day games at the BCCI CoE grounds, where he will captain India A, offer him an opportunity to regain form before the upcoming two-match Test series against world champions South Africa. The 28-year-old is expected to replace Dhruv Jurel, who performed well against the West Indies, as the wicketkeeper-batter. Pant, who has been practising at the CoE, is keen to get back on the field, provided the weather does not interfere. The relatively inexperienced South Africa A bowling unit, with the exception of off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen, may not pose significant challenges to Pant’s return. The pitch here is also expected to be favourable for batting. Along with improving his batting, Pant will be working on his wicketkeeping skills, especially with the prospect of facing top-quality spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav in the Test series. India A’s spinners, including Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, and Harsh Dubey, are expected to provide him with a good challenge. Sai Sudharsan, who last played in the second Test against the West Indies in Delhi earlier this month, will also benefit from these matches. The Tamil Nadu batter has been occupying the No. 3 slot temporarily and will be looking to score big. Although Sudharsan has shown promise, he has only two half-centuries in nine innings and will aim to improve his record against South Africa A. The India A team features other hopefuls such as Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Devdutt Padikkal, and Narayan Jagadeesan. Both Devdutt and Jagadeesan were part of the squad for the West Indies series and will be looking to impress and secure a spot in the senior team. Pace bowlers like Khaleel and Kamboj do not have immediate openings, but strong performances here will keep them in the selectors’ consideration. From a South African perspective, they will be focusing on Zubayr Hamza, who has been recalled to the Test side after nearly two years. Hamza has been in good form, with two centuries and two half-centuries in his last six first-class matches. IND A Vs SA A Full Squads India A: Rishabh Pant (C, WK), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagdeesan (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain. South Africa A: Marques Ackerman, Temba Bavuma (only for second four-day match), Okuhle Cele, Zubayr Hamza, Jordan Hermann, Rubin Hermann, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Tshepo Moreki, Mihlali Mpongwana, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Simmonds, Tsepo Ndwandwa, Jason Smith, Tiaan van Vuuren, Codi Yusuf. Match starts at 9.30am.
