Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant is likely to return to India’s Test squad for the two-match series against Bangladesh, which begins on September 19 in Chennai. Pant made his international comeback in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where India emerged victorious.
The 26-year-old left-hander also made his comeback in the last ODI of the series between Sri Lanka and India, where he was dismissed cheaply. However, it is his Test comeback that Indian fans are looking forward to.
Pant has a fantastic record in Test cricket. He has scored centuries overseas in Australia, England and South Africa and is one of the few wicketkeepers to have achieved this feat.
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Rishabh Pant prepares to play his first Test match since car accident
India chief selector Ajit Agarkar and his selection committee have confirmed that Rishabh Pant will gradually adapt to each format since returning to international cricket.
Pant returned to professional cricket in March this year during the IPL 2024 season, where he captained Delhi Capitals. After an excellent IPL campaign, he was selected for India’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Rishabh Pant’s last test match
Pant last played a Test match in December 2022 against Bangladesh in Dhaka. Barely a week later, he met with a horrific car accident at the Narsan Border in Roorkee near Hammadpur Jhal while returning home from Delhi.
Ajit Agarkar and his selection committee are all set to name the players who will participate in the Duleep Trophy and Pant is likely to feature in one of the four teams that will participate in the tournament. The tournament will be played from September 5 to 24.
According to PTI, the selectors will give Rishabh Pant a chance to play in the Duleep Trophy to prepare for the gruelling Test season for India. The left-hander has a fantastic record in Australia and helped India win the last Test series in Australia. He played a big knock in the last Test in Brisbane to end Australia’s 32-year reign at the Gabba.
Other goalkeepers are also fighting for a place alongside Rishabh Pant
When Rishabh Pant was out due to the accident, KS Bharat got a chance to cement his place in the Indian Test team. However, Bharat did not make the most of his opportunities and the chance went to Ishan Kishan. Kishan started his Test career on a good note in the West Indies. However, his withdrawal before the Tests against South Africa citing a mental break led to his downfall.
During the home Test series against England earlier this year, Dhruv Jurel got a chance and he grabbed it with both hands. Jurel played crucial knocks of 90 and 39* in the Ranchi Test to win the Man of the Match award in just his second Test match.
Dhruv Jurel, Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul are also likely to feature in the Duleep Trophy, which means Pant will be battling with these players for his wicketkeeping spot in the Indian team.