Following Shubman Gill’s exclusion from the series final due to a neck injury, Rishabh Pant will captain India in the second Test match against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, which begins on Saturday, November 22. In the first Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, he took over as captain after Shubman departed the pitch injured after batting just three balls in India’s opening innings. The World Test Champions prevailed by a margin of thirty runs.
It is difficult for a stopgap captain to lead a team that has just lost a Test match, according to legendary former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. He did, however, support the seasoned batsman-wicketkeeper to succeed in the position.
Filling in for a stopgap captain is never simple, particularly after losing a Test match a few days prior. Speaking on the most recent episode of ICC Review, Ponting stated, “Rishabh is a fairly experienced Test-match player now, and being a wicketkeeper probably helps him see how the game is evolving and what’s happening in the game.”
Thus, he has performed in the IPL for the past few years and previously for Delhi. I believe he will be alright. It will be intriguing to watch how he handles his batting style while serving as captain. “I believe he will manage the situation well,” he continued.
Pant recently captained India A in Bengaluru’s two unofficial Test matches against South Africa A. A 1-1 tie finished the series.
After losing their own match in Kolkata, India will need to recover well moving into the current two-match Test series against South Africa. Day 3 saw the Proteas defend a 124-run target on a shifting track. Gill, who leads the team in runs scored in Test matches this year, will be missing, which will put some pressure on the Men in Blue.
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