Rishabh Pant returns to bat after retiring 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 go up against South Africa in a two-Test series, starting next Friday (November 14). The 'keeper-batter was keen on continuing to bat even after being hit but was taken off as a precaution. Pant, however, returned to bat at the fall of the sixth wicket,

The first of the hits, to his helmet, came when he attempted a reverse sweep against the pacer and missed. He was typically off-balance while attempting the shot and ended up being floored after failing to connect. The physio conducted a mandatory concussion test and cleared him to carry on. Shortly after, he was hit on the left elbow that needed some pain-relief spray and taping up. The third hit was off a ball that seamed back into him off length and left him in more pain. He then reluctantly walked off, on 17* off 22. Dhruv Jurel - India's second wicketkeeper in Tests, arrived next and got to 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 but was recently named in India's squad for the home series against South Africa, and reinstated as Shubman Gill's deputy. He showed he was ready for a return to the Test side, as he scored a 90 in the second innings of the first four-day game against South Africa A last week. He also looked comfortable keeping wickets. He fell to 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.