Pant returns to captain India A in lead-up to SA Tests

Rishabh Pant will lead India A in the two four-day matches against South Africa A from October 30 to November 9. This marks the southpaw's return to competitive cricket after his recovery from a fractured toe in the Manchester Test against England in July, earlier this year. Pant is also expected to reclaim his spot in India's senior Test side after missing the fifth Test in England and the two home fixtures against West Indies owing to his injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India have announced two different squads for the two matches, but neither features Sarfaraz Khan. Sai Sudharsan has been named the vice-captain of the squad.

As the two four-day matches are clashing with the ongoing limited-overs tour of Australia, the squad for the first game mainly has a Ranji flavour to it. 18-year-old Ayush Mhatre has been called up to the squad alongside Rajat Patidar while Ayush Badoni keeps his place in the India A squad. Alongside them, the other batters in the squad are Test probables Devdutt Padikkal, Sudharsan and N Jagadeesan. The rest of the squad includes all-rounders Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian and Manav Suthar while the bowling attack consist of Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj and Saransh Jain.

The second match squad sees the return of more Test match regulars with KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj being added to the squad. Akash Deep is also included after featuring in Bengal's victorious opening encounter in the Ranji Trophy against Uttarakhand. Fast bowlers Khaleel Ahmed and Gurnoor Brar are the other two players drafted into the squad.

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