Rishabh Pant retires hurt against South Africa A

Rishabh Pant had to retire hurt in the ongoing A game against South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru after suffering three hits from fast bowler Tshepo Moreki. Pant took a hit on the helmet, and two more to his body—one to his left elbow and another to his abdomen—which eventually forced him off the field.

This comes as an injury scare for the senior side, which will face South Africa in a two-Test series starting next Friday (November 14). The wicketkeeper-batter was keen on continuing to bat but was taken off as a precaution.

The first hit, to his helmet, came when he attempted a reverse sweep against the pacer and missed. He was off-balance and floored after failing to connect. The physio conducted a mandatory concussion test and cleared him to continue. Shortly after, he was hit on the left elbow, requiring pain-relief spray and taping. The third hit came from a ball that seamed back into him off length, causing more pain. He reluctantly walked off on 17* off 22. Dhruv Jurel, India's second wicketkeeper in Tests, arrived next and scored a half-century in the second session.

Pant had been out of action since suffering a foot injury in the fourth Test against England at the Oval. He was recently named in India's squad for the home series against South Africa and reinstated as Shubman Gill's deputy. He showed readiness for a Test return by scoring 90 in the second innings of the first four-day game against South Africa A last week and looked comfortable keeping wickets. He fell to a Moreki short ball in the first innings of the ongoing game for 24 and has now had to cut his innings short in the second.