Pant back for the SA Tests but Shami’s wait continues

The falling ramp shot will be back and so will the stump mic one-liners. The upcoming India-South Africa Test series has received a big boost with the return ofa fit-again Rishabh Pant.

- Rasesh Mandani

India’s Test vice-captain was named in the 15-men squad on Wednesday for the two Tests at home starting November 14 in Kolkata. Pant replaces N Jagad-eesan, who wasa backup to Dhruv Jurelin the last series against West Indies.

Pant's last sighting in international cricket was him hobbling to the crease with a broken foot and adding crucial first innings runs after the injury he suffered during the Manchester Test against England in July. Before that injury ruled him outin the 4th of the epic five-Test saga against England, Pant was at his free-flowing best with his 479 runs in seven innings including two hundreds.

Pant has had his share of misfortunes with injuries, but to his credit, he has come back stronger each time. After the life-threatening road accident he suffered in late 2022 that forced him on the long road to recovery, he made a successful return after fifteen months. His stats on return - 14 Tests, 1156 runs, 46.24 average - show that he never lost his touch.