RISHABH Pant will lead India A in the two four-day matches against South Africa A from October 30 to November 9. This marks the southpaw’s return to competitive cricket after his recovery from a fractured toe in the Manchester Test against England in July, earlier this year.
Pant is also expected to reclaim his spot in India’s senior Test side after missing the fifth Test in England and the two home fixtures against West Indies owing to his injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India have announced two different squads for the two matches, but neither features Sarfaraz Khan. Sai Sudharsan has been named the vice-captain of the squad.
As the two four-day matches are clashing with the ongoing limited-overs tour of Australia, the squad for the first game mainly has a Ranji flavour to it. 18-year-old Ayush Mhatre has been called up to the squad alongside Rajat Patidar while Ayush Badoni keeps his place in the India A squad.
Alongside them, the other batters in the squad are Test probables Devdutt Padikkal, Sudharsan and N Jagadeesan. The rest of the squad includes all-rounders Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian and Manav Suthar while the bowling attack consist of Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj and Saransh Jain.
The quartet of Dubey, Kotian, Thakur and Suthar all featured in the two four-day games against Australia A last month.

India A squad for the 1st four-day match: Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), Ayush Mhatre, N Jagdeesan (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain.
The second match squad sees the return of more Test match regulars with KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj being added to the squad.
Akash Deep is also included after featuring in Bengal’s victorious opening encounter in the Ranji Trophy against Uttarakhand. Fast bowlers Khaleel Ahmed and Gurnoor Brar are the other two players drafted into the squad.
India A squad for the 2nd four-day match: Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
Mhatre, Patidar, Kamboj, Thakur, Badoni and Saransh are the exclusions for the second game.
The two matches will be played at the Centre of the Excellence in Bengaluru while the tour of South Africa will commence from November 14 in Kolkata.
India A vs South Africa A series schedule:
1st Four-day match – October 30 to November 2 – Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru.

2nd Four-day match – November 6 to November 9 – Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru. (Cricbuzz)