The wait is finally about to get over as the Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant will skipper the India A squad against South Africa A in a two-match four-day series, starting October 30 in Bengaluru.

Earlier in July, the wicketkeeper-batter suffered a foot injury during the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Manchester, after which he has been out of competitive action. However, Pant has now been cleared to play from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence following two stages of rehab.

Pant, a T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy winner, was in great nick in the England series, wherein he notched 479 runs in four Tests at an average of 68.42. His series was highlighted by the twin tons (134 and 118) in the first Test in Leeds. He also notched fifty-plus scores at Birmingham, Lord’s and Manchester before being ruled out of the final Test.

Notably, Pant had registered a magnificent and unbeaten 61-ball 118 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in LSG’s Indian Premier League 2025 campaign finale.

Subject to fitness and performance in the four-day series against South Africa A, Pant could likely make a return to the Indian men’s Test team for the South Africa series.

India are slated to play the first Test against the Proteas in Kolkata from November 14, followed by the second Test in Guwahati from November 22.

Additionally, LSG stars Ayush Badoni and Akash Deep are also set to represent India A in the four-dayers against South Africa A. While Badoni is in the squad for the first match, Akash is in the team for the second.

India A squad for the first four-day match vs South Africa A: Rishabh Pant (captain, wicket-keeper), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagadeesan (wicket-keeper), Sai Sudharsan (vice-captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed

India A squad for the second four-day match vs South Africa A: Rishabh Pant (captain, wicket-keeper), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper), Sai Sudharsan (vice-captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep

Image courtesy: BCCI