The opening unofficial Test match between India-A and South Africa-A holds a massive significance for the return of Rishabh Pant at the BCCI Center of Excellence Ground 1. The left-handed batter was out of action for the last two months and didn’t feature in the recent Asia Cup 2025 and the two-match home Test series against the West Indies.

Pant also didn’t take part in the three-match ODI series and the five-match T20I series against Australia down under. But the left-handed batter eyes his return for the upcoming two-match red-ball series against the Proteas at home. In an unofficial Test, he entertained the fans with his funny stump-mic conversations.

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“There are not several fielders on the off side. You keep bowling at the same line; no issues there. You keep hitting the stump line for a few minutes. There won’t be many issues. Don’t be fussed about their shots and be relaxed. Let’s catch the rhythm first and keep bowling at the same spot for a couple of overs. Wicket will come eventually.” Pant continued his interaction with the spinner.

Watch: Rishabh Pant’s stump-mic conversation during IND-A vs SA-A unofficial Test goes viral 

Pant injured himself during the fourth Test of the five-match series against England at Old Trafford in Manchester. He tried to reverse sweep Chris Woakes over the wicket-keeper’s head but was hit on the bridge of his foot. Pant was stretched out of the field before wobbling into the middle on the next day to bat.

Rishabh Pant is back - and so are the stump mic moments! 🎯#INDAvSAA, 1st Unofficial Test, LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/JjpHHM4t7l pic.twitter.com/8fPyEcNayq

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 30, 2025

“Lovely!! This is what I want. Now, show me if you can bowl six balls at this spot. It will be fun then.” Pant supported the spinner. The Proteas didn’t make a good start with the bat as they lost their opener, Lesego Senokwane, for a seven-ball duck in the second over of the game.

But Jordan Hermann and Zubayr Hamza celebrated a fine 130-run stand for the second wicket to bail themselves out of trouble. But Gurnoor Brar broke the stand, removing Hamza for 66 runs in 109 balls with the help of nine boundaries and one six. Hermann looked good in the middle for 64 unbeaten runs.