Star player Rishabh Pant is still India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman in Test cricket. The 28-year-old left-hander last represented India in the June 2026 one-off Test match against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, where he amassed 81 runs in the opening innings. Pant was left out of India’s ODI squads for both the June home series against Afghanistan and the July away series against England, despite his outstanding batting performance. He will return to the team for the August two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, though.
Pant is anticipated to be the first-choice wicketkeeper after being included in India’s 15-man tour team on Tuesday, July 28. Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers acknowledged he was taken back by Pant’s participation, despite the fact that his selection did not cause any controversy in India.
AB de Villiers On Rishabh Pant
De Villiers claims that during the 2026 IPL, Pant was a little lacking in confidence. He did, however, add that he much admires the wicketkeeper-batter and wishes for him to get back to his peak.
“Rishabh Pant is included, which, in my opinion, is a bit of a surprise. We’ll have to see what his fitness is like and what his appetite is to perform because he looked slightly low on confidence and energy during the IPL. But now he’s representing India again, and I believe that will bring out the best in No. 17. I’m a big fan—I just want to see him play with intensity,” De Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
AB de Villiers On Saransh Jain
Saransh Jain, an all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh who received his first India Test call-up for the Sri Lanka series, was another topic De Villiers discussed. After continuously playing in domestic cricket, he said it was wonderful to see the 33-year-old finally get his chance.
“The big surprise, however, is Saransh Jain. He’s 33 years old and has been playing first-class cricket for quite some time. It’s great to see him finally get his opportunity. He’s a right-arm off-spinner and a left-handed batter, similar to Washington Sundar. He’s played for quite a while and his bowling numbers are excellent. He averages just over 27, with a strike rate of around 54. He’ll give Shubman Gill another useful option once the ball gets older. His batting record is also respectable, with several fifties and a couple of hundreds,” he added.
India and Sri Lanka will play their first Test from August 15 to August 19 in Galle, and their second Test from August 23 to August 27 at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
