As cricket often does, it was time for another dramatic comeback story for India’s star batsman, Rishabh Pant. It was just a few short months ago that Pant’s thrilling reverse-sweep against England’s Chris Woakes went awry when he suffered a broken foot, and missed the final test match of the series in Manchester as well as India’s subsequent home series vs. the West Indies. By November 2025, Pant had not only recovered from his injury but was named again by the Indian selectors as India’s Vice-Captain, a true example of Pant’s ability to bounce back, as well as the confidence that the selectors have in Pant.
Pant’s Batting Depth Could Stabilize No.5
The middle-order for India’s Test team has had little stability, and the players currently batting at number 5, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, and Devdutt Padikkal, have yet to be able to find a stable pair. The return of Rishabh Pant to this position will provide a double-edged benefit: An attacking counter-attacker who can take the game on when the top three are struggling and a technically skilled player who has consistently performed well against quality fast bowling. Take into consideration his English performance before injury: He was averaging 47.5 in the five Tests in 2025, where he played before being injured, and he hit an important 85 at Lord’s. If Rishabh Pant performs as he did in his last series in England, then India will gain not only runs from him but also the added mental boost of having a proven finisher who can swing momentum during a Test innings.
Spin Depth and All-Round Balance
Although India has many quality spinners at their disposal including; Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, Pant’s return brings a unique strategic element as he can manage the field and assess the spin of opposition bowlers while providing stability for India during the latter stages of an innings and potentially helping the Indian tail enders by batting through difficult periods of sharp turning ball. Historically, captains who have had input into the tactics of the game (i.e., Dhoni and Ganguly) have been able to influence the result of a game in ways that would be considered unexplainable. With Pant bringing his tactical acumen to the team along with Jadeja’s versatility, it will create multiple layers of strategy, allowing the management of India the opportunity to strategically place the field and rotate the bowling attack, which may confuse the batsmen of South Africa.
Pacers and Selection Conundrums
It is the bowling unit that adds a layer of intrigue. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj will be automatic selections for their respective teams, but the selection of Akash Deep instead of Prasidh Krishna suggests a slight tweak in how India has been selecting its fast bowlers. The combination of Deep’s consistent seam movement and ability to produce bounce on pitches in India may help create opportunities for Bumrah to use his deadly yorkers effectively, and the decision to leave out Shami, who had taken 15 wickets at an average of 15.53 during the Ranji Trophy season, will likely lead to further discussion about what type of balance between form, workload management and expected conditions India wants to achieve. As such, Rishabh Pant’s return to the team comes at a time when India has some important decisions to make regarding whether to rely on existing players, give opportunities to new young talent, or try to do both.
The return of Rishabh Pant is more than simply his physical rehabilitation; it is a tactical maneuver by India in terms of Test planning. Not just as the vice captain, Pant will be an asset in providing some stability at the number 5/6 position in the batting lineup, and with his experience, provide valuable insight to the fielding team on how to place the fielders, which can give India an advantage. This upcoming South Africa series is the perfect opportunity for Pant to show whether or not he is ready to play, and if so, will continue to demonstrate that India is not only looking to develop a more stable middle order but to prove that having a strong bench and depth of talent is key to the development of a successful Test cricket team.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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