Star India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant eased injury fears after retiring hurt while batting against South Africa A, returning to bat for India A on Day 3 of the second four-day game in Bengaluru. His injury had caused serious concern, with the first Test against South Africa less than a week away.

Pant was taken out as a precautionary measure after he was smacked thrice by Protea pacer Tshepo Moraki towards the end of the morning session at the BCCI CoE grounds in Bengaluru.

Pant was struck flush on the helmet while attempting a reverse pull and later took painful blows to his right elbow and abdomen.

Team physios rushed in to attend to Pant on all three occasions before head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar called him back to the pavilion as a precaution, despite Pant’s eagerness to

See Full Page