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Rishabh Pant made a comeback to cricket after the foot fracture in the England tour. Pant sported jersey no 18, which is Virat Kohli's jersey, rather than his usual no 17 while captaining India A. (Screengrab via BCCI X)
Rishabh Pant made him comeback to cricket with the India A side in an unofficial Test match against South Africa A after the foot fracture he suffered in the Test series against England earlier this year. Handed the captaincy of the India A team, Pant was the one who asked South Africa to bat first after winning the toss.
Pant’s return to competitive cricket was surrounded by curiosity, as he took to the field sporting the jersey number 18 rather than 17, which is his usual number. The no 18 jersey is one sported by Virat Kohli who retired from Tests in May this year after a 14-year-long career.
Pant’s return behind the stumps also means that the one-liners from the wicketkeeper were back.
Here are some of the lines he was heard by the stump mic saying to his bowlers and fielders during South Africa’s first innings at the National Centre of Excellence ground in Bengaluru.
WATCH: Rishabh Pant on stump mic
Rishabh Pant is back & so are the stump mic moments! 🎯#INDAvSAA, 1st Unofficial Test, LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/JjpHHM4t7l pic.twitter.com/RdYen272Xj
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 30, 2025
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Speaking to Kotian, Pant can be heard, in a video posted on social media by Star Sports, as saying,”Jyada fielder nahi hai off-side mei. Daalte rah apna koi nahi. Thodi der dande pe daal koi problem nahi hai. Maarne do. Theek ha theek hai tang mat ho, relax hoke daal. Shabash. Rhythm pakadne ko dekho, aa jayega ek do over mein.. pareshan mat ho. (There aren’t many fielders on the offside. But you keep bowling on the same length. Try and bowl on the stumps, let him hit. Its okay, don’t get riled up, just relax. Try and find your rhythm, you will get the wicket in one or two overs, don’t stress too much).”
Pant was also heard telling left-arm spinner Manav Suthar: “Arre bhai yahi hai yahi hai, 6 ball daal ke dikhao zara maza aayega (This was good, now bowl six balls like this on the trot).”
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