In a surprising twist that caught the attention of cricket fans everywhere, Rishabh Pant walked out for the toss in the India A vs South Africa A match at the BCCI Centre of Excellence on Thursday donning none other than Virat Kohli’s iconic jersey No. 18. Traditionally, Pant has sported jersey No. 17, making this sudden switch a topic of instant debate and speculation among fans and pundits alike.
With Kohli having retired from Tests and T20Is, the No. 18 jersey has become symbolic of one of India’s greatest cricketing icons. Could Pant be signaling a passing of the torch, or was this simply a tribute to the legendary batter? Only time will tell, but the gesture did not go unnoticed.
Rishabh Pant was spotted wearing jersey number 18 during the India A vs South Africa practice Test 👀 pic.twitter.com/qoUbmyuAeK
— Kevin (@imkevin149) October 30, 2025
On the field, Pant led India A to the toss and opted to put South Africa A in to bat. At the lunch break, the visitors were comfortably placed at 108 for 1, with Jordan Hermann unbeaten on 42 and Zubayr Hamza steady at 56. The only wicket fell to Anshul Kamboj, who struck for India.
For Pant, this match marks an important return after a three-month injury layoff. The 28-year-old sustained a foot injury in July during India’s England tour and has been working hard to regain match fitness. India A’s head coach Sudharsan praised Pant’s condition during the training session, saying:
“Rishabh looks fantastic – actually, maybe fitter, I would say. He had some time to build and put that training into his legs because sometimes when you get injured, you have that specific time to work on whatever you want. I feel he looks a bit more fit and strong, and as courageous as he always is.”
Pant’s return couldn’t come at a better time, as he eyes a comeback to the senior Indian team during the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa. His aggressive batting style, coupled with fearless wicketkeeping, has made him one of India’s most exciting talents in recent years.
With fans buzzing over the No.18 jersey revelation, Pant’s form and fitness will be under close scrutiny in the coming weeks. Whether this is a symbolic nod to Kohli or the start of a new chapter for Pant remains to be seen but one thing is certain: the cricketing world is watching, and expectations have never been higher.
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