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Pant returns after 3 months; Indian players to watch out for in upcoming SA Tests

Aakash Saini

Indian team players [Source: AFP Photo]Indian team players [Source: AFP Photo]

The Indian cricket team is gearing up to host South Africa for a series of two Test matches in Kolkata and Guwahati this month. The series marks another early test in India’s evolving red-ball era under head coach Gautam Gambhir and newly-appointed captain Shubman Gill.

After fighting out a draw in England, and winning a series against West Indies at home, the challenge against a well-balanced South African outfit will demand greater consistency and tactical clarity, considering the reigning World Test Championship (WTC) holders recently enjoyed a successful Test tour of Pakistan.

As India seek to extend their impressive run this WTC 2025-27 cycle and hope to shrug off their New Zealand scars from last year, several players will be heading into the series with a point to prove. While some are seeking redemption after underwhelming recent returns, others are striving to re-affirm their place after an injury setback.

Nonetheless, ahead of the blockbuster WTC series, here is a look at three Indian cricketers eager to make a statement against the visiting Proteas.

1. Rishabh Pant

Blistering Indian stumper Rishabh Pant suffered a nasty foot injury in England, a blow that ruled him out of the series-decider against the hosts at The Oval. He also missed out India’s entire two-match home series against West Indies, and the entirety of India’s white-ball tour of Australia. After losing over three months’ worth of international cricket, Pant now returns with renewed intent, not just to regain his rhythm, but also to assert his claim as India’s premier wicketkeeper-batter amid the unprecedented rise of young Dhruv Jurel.

While Rishabh Pant still holds Test credentials far more prolific than most of his peers, his upcoming outings will serve as a reminder of the match-winner he has long been for India.

2. Nitish Kumar Reddy

Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has somehow managed to collect more injuries than the runs or wickets he has registered in Tests this year. From a side strain in January to a neck spasm in October, the 22-year-old was finally deemed fit enough to be picked in Team India squad for the Test series against South Africa.

After impressing with both bat and ball in his debut Test series in Australia last year, every injury layoff since has kept Nitish Reddy from building consistent momentum on the international stage. Widely touted as the ‘Hardik Pandya of Tests’ by a legion of Indian cricket fans and experts, the youngster will be aiming to make the most of his newfound fitness in a bid to prove himself worthy of being a genuine all-round option for his country.

3. Devdutt Padikkal

Ever since making his Test debut back in March 2024 last year against England in Dharamsala, top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal has received just one additional crack in the Indian playing XI. After scoring a match-winning 65 in his debut Test innings, the cricketer returned with a sluggish 23-ball duck in Perth later that year. The 25-year-old has since gone back to the domestic grind, honing his technique either through Ranji Trophy for Karnataka, in Duleep Trophy games for South Zone or for India A in two unofficial four-day Tests against South Africa A.

With India’s middle-order still searching for stability since the retirement of Virat Kohli and the silent de facto exit of Ajinkya Rahane, Padikkal will be eager to translate his prolific first-class record for Team India in Test cricket.