Overview

• BCCI’s Centre of Excellence is slated to assess Pant’s right foot this week, with sources indicating clearance could come by October 10.
• Pant has informed the DDCA he aims to play Ranji Trophy matches in Delhi from October 25, subject to fitness, and could captain if available.
• If cleared, he may feature in up to two Ranji games as preparation for India’s home Tests against South Africa beginning November 14.
• Recent training includes batting in the nets, signaling progress in supervised rehabilitation though he is not yet at full fitness.
• The fractured right metatarsal suffered in July—and aggravated by batting the next day—has already ruled him out of the Asia Cup, West Indies Tests, and the Australia white-ball tour, with Dhruv Jurel stepping in for wicketkeeping duties.