Team India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who is out of action after getting injured during the England tour, can make a comeback in competitive cricket from the new season of Ranji Trophy cricket tournament starting from Wednesday. Many young players will be desperate to leave their mark in this national championship.
Pant playing in the second round is the highlight of the first phase of the Ranji Trophy, otherwise it serves no immediate purpose as India are not due to play Test matches for a long time after the home series against South Africa next month.
Pant has been out of action since breaking his toe after being hit by Chris Woakes in Manchester in July and his rehabilitation at the BCCI Center of Excellence is going on track. The wicketkeeper batsman is not named in Delhi’s 24-player squad for the first round match against Hyderabad but if the COE approves his return. So he can play either in the second round or the third round.
This may give Pant a chance to assess his fitness and practice for the match before the series against world champion South Africa from November 14.
Apart from Pant, however, not many players have any realistic hope of getting into the Indian team based on their performances in the Ranji Trophy, as India have to play more limited overs matches this season.
Given the importance of the series against South Africa and the World Test Championship points, it is also highly unlikely that India will tinker with the 15 players who performed well in the recently concluded series against the West Indies.