Spotlight on returning Rishabh Pant

Bengaluru: The spotlight will be firmly on a fit-again Rishabh Pant but the national team’s new No. 3 Sai Sudharsan would be keen on sharpening his skills as India A gear up for the first of the two four-day games against South Africa A starting here on Thursday.

Ever since he fractured his right foot while attempting a reverse sweep in the Manchester Test against England late July, the dynamic Pant has been rendered hors de combat, missing the Asia Cup as well as the home two-match Test series against West Indies.

But following treatment and subsequent rehabilitation at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence on the outskirts of the City where both the games against South Africa A will be played, a buoyant Pant will be desperate to bounce back to life ahead of the crucial two-match Test series versus World Test Championship winners South Africa.

"Rishabh looks fantastic actually, may be more fitter I would say," Sudharsan said of the captain's physical condition. "He had some time to build that training in his legs. I feel sometimes when you get injured you have that specific time to work on whatever you want. I feel he looks a bit more fitter and stronger, and as courageous as always he is."

With Pant expected to slip back to the vice-captaincy role for the Proteas rubber starting November 14 in Kolkata, the two games here are the perfect chance for the 28-year-old to get the juices flowing.

In terms of batting, Pant, who has been named captain for this series, would hardly face much challenge considering South Africa A have fielded a relatively inexperienced attack. With the pitch at CoE also expected to favour the batters like it did in the Duleep Trophy, one can expect Pant to go after the South Africa bowlers in his typical high-octane style.

Pant would also want to spend some quality time in the middle, considering he hasn’t played competitive cricket over the last few months. Promoting himself up the order to No. 4 instead of coming out at No. 5 could give him a longer stint in the middle.

More than batting, it’s Pant’s wicketkeeping the selectors will keep a close eye on. And Pant will be given a solid workout on that front with Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey expected to test the Delhiite.

Sudharsan will be another player who would be looking for a big knock in the two games. The under-pressure Tamil Nadu batter has silenced the critics for the moment with a timely 87 in the first innings of the second Test against the West Indies in New Delhi.

Sudharsan’s initiation to international cricket hasn’t been smooth but there’s little doubt he’s amongst the most talented young batters in the country. A big knock here would bolster his confidence ahead of the bigger battles in Kolkata and Guwahati.

Although most of the squad for the two Tests against South Africa picks itself, players like Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar would be determined to make an impression and keep their names in the reckoning.

Padikkal was part of the squad for the West Indies series and a quality knock here would put him right up the pecking order for a cap in case a regular player gets injured. The selectors have spoken about investing in him and he would be keen to vindicate their decision.

Squads: India A: Rishabh Pant (capt, WK), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagdeesan (wk), Sai Sudharsan (vice-capt), 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 (capt), 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.