Pant Retires Hurt: South Africa A Blows
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India Gears Up for South Africa Test Series Amidst World Test Championship Push
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India will host South Africa in a two-Test series beginning November 14 in Kolkata, followed by a match in Guwahati starting November 22. Guwahati will be hosting its first-ever Test match, marking a meaningful moment for cricket in the region.
The series is particularly vital in the context of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-2027. India currently holds the third position in the standings with a points percentage of 61.90%, while South Africa is fifth with 50%.
This series follows India’s recent successes, including a hard-fought series win against England.Notably, India secured a memorable victory at the Oval in September 2023, leveling the five-Test series against England at 2-2.
World Test Championship Standings
Here’s a snapshot of the current WTC standings as of November 8, 2023 (data sourced from ESPNcricinfo):
| Rank | Team | Points percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 76.92% |
| 2 | New Zealand | 66.67% |
| 3 | India | 61.90% |
| 4 | Pakistan | 58.33% |
| 5 | South Africa | 50.00% |
Recent Form and Player Updates
While official team lineups are pending, recent reports indicate that the Indian squad is largely expected to retain key players from their previous series. Though, concerns remain regarding the fitness of Rishabh Pant following an injury sustained during a recent india A tour match.
During the first session of the third day of a recent India A match, pant was struck multiple times - on his body and helmet – by fast bowler Tshepo Moreki,forcing him to retire hurt after scoring 17 runs off 22 balls. Prior to the injury, Pant had shown promising form, hitting boundaries off