Rishabh Pant named India captain for must-win Guwahati Test against South Africa

Rishabh Pant will captain India in the second Test against South Africa, starting Saturday at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. The decision comes after regular skipper Shubman Gill was ruled out with a neck injury suffered during the opening Test at Eden Gardens, where India fell short by 30 runs.

Pant confirmed the change during Friday’s pre-match press conference, saying Gill had pushed hard to be fit but the medical team was not willing to risk him. “Shubman was keen to play. He showed great resilience even when his body wasn’t allowing it. We’ve already decided who will replace him, and that player knows he’s playing,” Pant said.

Gill’s injury also places his participation in the ODI series, starting November 30, in serious doubt.

Pant will now become India’s 38th Test captain and only the second wicketkeeper-batter after MS Dhoni to lead the side in red-ball cricket. He is also India’s seventh Test captain in the past five years, taking charge at a crucial moment as Guwahati hosts its first-ever Test match.

The task ahead is straightforward but tough — India must win to level the two-match series.

Pant said he plans to keep things simple. “I don’t want to overthink. We had a tough first Test, and we need to do whatever is required to win. A one-off match isn’t the easiest situation for a captain, but I’m grateful to the BCCI for this honour.”

The 26-year-old said he aims to strike a balance in his captaincy approach. “Thinking too much about big occasions doesn’t help. I want to stay conventional but also use out-of-the-box ideas when needed. The key is to blend both well,” he added.

India will hope Pant’s fresh leadership helps them script a strong comeback.