NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant announced his return from injury in emphatic fashion, leading India A's fightback from the front with a blistering 90 off 113 balls against South Africa A, after the team had been reduced to 32/4 in their chase of 275 on Day 4 of the first unofficial Test in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Resuming on his overnight score of 64, Pant continued to bat with trademark flair, delighting the Bengaluru crowd with a flurry of strokes. His innings featured 11 crisp boundaries and four towering sixes, showcasing his full range of shots, before an attempted big hit off Tiaan van Vuuren brought his entertaining knock to an end.

Leading India A, Pant failed to make an impact in the first innings, falling for a 20-ball 17 that included two well-timed boundaries.

Pant picked up the foot injury during the fourth Test against England in July and underwent recovery at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

In a video shared by the BCCI, Pant reflected on the emotional toll of the rehab process, admitting that staying motivated was tough but his determination and focus kept him going.

"I started my rehab slowly, slowly, went through a little bit of, you know, physio work in the initial 10-15 days, slowly, slowly getting back to doing my strength, a little bit of rehab. And it all started from there as a second phase for me, and right now I'm here with you, fully recovered. Thanks to COE for that," Pant said in the video.

He also emphasised the importance of maintaining a positive mindset throughout the rehabilitation process.

"Being positive is really a mindset thing. During an injury, you tend to get demotivated. The energy levels are not great, you are frustrated, you know. But if you can do small, small things that make you feel good, you have to do that part also, especially when you are injured.