Indian wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant is back in the Indian team, and he is already playing the role of Rishabh Pant from behind the stumps. Good calls on DRS, charging bowlers and mic-dropping one-liners on the stump mic; India is already seeing Pant’s comedy and grip.
India are currently hosting defending WTC champions South Africa for a two-match Test series. India once again lost the toss and Gill announced a change in the team, with the return of Rishabh Pant being the most obvious move.
However, surprisingly, India have played with 4 spinners in the team and Axar Patel has returned. Washington Sundar has not bowled in the match yet and his batting position will also be a big development for the Indian team.
Rishabh Pant gives advice to bowlers on identified flaws of Proteas batsmen
Rishabh Pant is often known as a serious character on the field. He is known for his batting as well as his constant excitement from behind the stumps. Pant’s return marked some good DRS-rejected calls, as they later proved to be the right decisions taken by the Indian glovesman. It marked the return of the animated master.
In a recent video, Pant was heard advising Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav to bowl the ball a little fuller and towards the stumps, as the South African batsman or rather the entire team is known to play such balls on the backfoot.
He then made further fielding changes in the aggressive catching position, as he predicted that Temba Bavuma is a serial sweeper against spinners. Bavuma was eventually caught at short leg position, although not with a sweep shot.
Rishabh Pant is back in Tests with comedy and clutch advice that only he can give!
From dismissing bowlers to mic-dropping one-liners on the stump mic, the man is already serving Rishabh Pant well.#INDvSA First test live now https://t.co/uK1oWLgsfx pic.twitter.com/spqaupMr3T
– Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) 14 November 2025
Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav continued their performance even after lunch.
After the top three were sent back to the dugout by the Indian bowlers before lunch, South Africa’s new No. 3 Wiaan Mulder started the proceedings along with Tony De Zorzi as they came out for the second session of the first day’s play at the Eden Gardens.
Known to be an effective batsman for fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah proved exceptionally useful in the conditions. However, bowler Kuldeep Yadav, who has been a consistent wicket taker for India, also could not be kept out of the game.
Kuldeep bowled a ball which had Mulder limping in front of three stumps as he missed attempting a reverse sweep. Despite Mulder’s review, it saw three reds and South Africa lost a wicket with the review.
Bumrah continued the attack from the other end and dismissed Tony De Zorzi with a very low ball. South Africa lost another review here as the ball pitched around off and hit three of the stumps, leaving the batsman stranded in front of the stumps.
India dropped Sai Sudarshan, who will bat at no. 3?
The Indian team has discarded its best recent find at the number three batting position, which has been a persistent problem since the retirement of Virat Kohli. Although Sai Sudarshan was selected in the team, he has not been included in the playing eleven.
In his place, Washington Sundar’s name was on the team sheet. Sundar bats like a batsman, and it remains to be seen whether Gautam Gambhir has considered promoting Washington Sundar to No. 3 or Dhruv Jurel, as Pant will take the No. 5 spot on his return.
Also read: Gautam Gambhir’s move to Sai Sudarshan may cause him to lose his biggest confidant
