RETURNING RISHABH UNDER SPOTLIGHT

After missing out on Test cricket for almost two years, wicketkeeper-batter likely to make a return in the first Test vs Bangladesh

- ASHOK VENUGOPAL

RISHABH Pant is set to be in the spotlight soon. With India's first Test against Bangladesh beginning in Chennai on Thursday, Pant is likely to make a return to the Test team after almost 20 months. Although Dhruv Jurel kept wickets against England earlier in the year and is currently part of the squad, Pant could get the nod ahead of Jurel in the playing XI.

And one could see glimpses of it as Pant had a fruitful net session on Monday with the bat at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in the lead up to the opening Test. The left-handed batter was employing his trademark shots and seemed to be in good touch. After his recovery from the car accident that he suffered in December 2022, Pant played in the IPL this year and was also part of the Indian team that won the T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies.