October 30, 2025

Rishabh Pant is back, and how! The wicketkeeper-batter made a smashing return to cricket in a recent India A versus South Africa A match. After battling a knee injury on the England tour, selectors brought him back through these India A games to check if he's match ready for the big South Africa Test series. Leading India A from behind the stumps, Pant turned up the heat with his famous stump mic banter. He gave priceless advice to young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, telling him to relax and keep bowling confidently. Pant told him, "Zyaada fielder nahin hai outside mein. Dalta reh apna koi nahin. Thodi der dande pe daalo koi problem nahin. Maarne do. Tang mat do. Relax hoke daal. Shabaash. Rhythm pakadne ko dekho. Aa jaayega ek aad over mein. Pareshan mat ho." This roughly means: the fielders outside are few, so keep bowling your lines, even if the batters attack. Don't stress—relax and find your rhythm. It was genuine cricket wizardry caught right on the stump mic! As Suthar got into his groove, Pant cheered him on, "Arre bhai. Yahi hai. 6 ball daalke dekho zara. Mazaa aayega." He encouraged the spinner to keep testing the batter with the same shots and bowling lines. Pant wasn’t just the voice behind the wickets; he showed his lightning reflexes too. He grabbed a key catch of Zubayr Hamza, who was flexing strong muscles with a half-century threat. The comeback is special after Pant missed the home Test series against the West Indies during his injury recovery. These two four-day games at the BCCI Centre of Excellence are just the perfect stage for him to regain his rhythm and fitness ahead of the major home Tests against South Africa. Now 28, Rishabh Pant is expected to reclaim his spot behind the stumps, likely replacing Dhruv Jurel, who shone in the recent India-West Indies series. Pant's vibrant stump mic talks and sharp wicketkeeping have fans buzzing about his big return. Who wouldn’t want their wicketkeeper captain cheering and strategizing with such energy and zest? Stay tuned for more thrilling cricket updates and live scores, including exclusive ICC rankings and players' stats featuring stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill. The cricket excitement is back, and Rishabh Pant is leading the charge with style!

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Tags: Rishabh pant, India a, South africa a, Wicketkeeper, Knee injury, Stump mic,