Rishabh Pant returned to international cricket in the first unofficial Test between India A and South Africa A by donning the No. 18 jersey worn by Virat Kohli. Pant had sustained a fracture to his foot during the fourth Test of the five-match tour of England earlier in 2025. He is playing his first match after an injury layoff of three months.
Pant is playing as captain of the squad that is currently taking on the touring South Africa A outfit at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru. Pant had to miss the title-winning Asia Cup 2025 as well as the two-match home Test series against West Indies owing to his injury. The wicketkeeper-batter looks set to make a comeback to Test cricket in their series against South Africa.
Social media has been abuzz after Pant was seen in No. 18 jersey. Many Indian supporters commented their views that Kohli's jersey number should be retired to respect his legacy. The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI is yet to retire Kohli's No. 18 jersey. They have already taken the step for Sachin Tendulkar's No. 10 and MS Dhoni's No. 7.