SA vs IND: Best XI of the Test series

6. Rishabh Pant (WK)

The place of the wicketkeeper has been unquestioned for quite some time now with Rishabh Pant adding valuable contribution for the Indians time and again. Entering the series as India’s second-highest run-getter in Test cricket in 2021, there were bound to be a lot of expectations.

Pant would be a happy man, ending the series breaking a lot of records and setting higher standards for himself. He scripted his name as the first Asian wicket-keeper to slam three centuries in Tests in SENA countries. Not only this, all of his four hundreds have come in four different countries. The bouncy South African pitches troubled the young and agile Pant little as he became the fastest Indian wicketkeeper to effect 100 dismissals in Tests.

His shot selection came under the scanner and ignited a lot of debate in India’s loss in the second Test with experts claiming his batting to be reckless. But his crucial century in the following Test was enough to turn the tables and shut the critics.

His free-flowing innings in the 3 matches accounted for 186 runs averaging 37.20. While the majority of the Indian batters failed to reach the double-figure mark in the second innings of the decider Test, Pant’s control and clarity showed that he is still amongst the match winners and gets a place in the combined XI squad in the role of a wicket-keeper.