NEW DELHI, Nov 5, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Flamboyant wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh 
Pant returned to India's squad for the upcoming Test series against South 
Africa, the cricket board announced Wednesday.

Pant missed India's home series against the West Indies last month as he 
recovered from a foot fracture.

Fast bowler Akash Deep was also recalled, replacing Prasidh Krishna from the 
team that played against the West Indies.

India are in a period of transition under 26-year-old captain Shubman Gill, 
following the retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Gill led India to a 2-0 home win over the West Indies and a hard-fought 2-2 
draw in their five-Test series in England earlier this year, his first outing 
as captain.

The two-Test series against South Africa begins November 14 in Kolkata, with 
the second match to be played in Guwahati -- the city's first-ever Test.

India are currently third in the World Test Championship table, with South 
Africa two spots below in fifth.

The Proteas drew their last Test series 1-1 against Pakistan.

Squad: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai 
Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, 
Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep 
Yadav, Akash Deep.

Fixtures:

November 14-18, Kolkata

November 22-26, Guwahati