Rishabh Pant had to retire hurt on Day 3 of the second unofficial Test 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. However, he returned to bat at the fall of the sixth wicket and went on to score a quick-fire 65 before getting out to Simmonds.
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 was keen on continuing to bat even after being hit but was taken off as a precaution.
But he came back to bat later in the day and raced to a 48-ball fifty with a six off Kyle Simmonds, shortly after Jurel brought up his second ton of the game. The pair added 82 before Pant was dismissed attempting a big shot. India declared their innings soon after that, leaving South Africa A with a target of 417.
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.
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