Rishabh Pant is under medical observation after retiring hurt on the third day of the four-day match against South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence grounds on Saturday. The wicketkeeper-batter could, however, return to bat if required, depending on the assessment of the team’s physios.

Pant was withdrawn as a precaution after being struck three times by South African pacer Tshepo Moraki during the morning session. He was later seen with his left hand bandaged.

At the time, Pant was on 17 off 22 balls before Dhruv Jurel replaced him at the crease.

“The team physios are monitoring him and will decide whether he can resume batting, depending on the match situation,” a team official told PTI.

Moraki first hit Pant on the helmet as he attempted a reverse pull, then on the elbow during a pull shot, and finally on the abdomen — a blow that left him visibly in pain. After being attended to by medical staff on each occasion, India A coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar decided to call him back, despite Pant’s wish to continue batting.

Pant, who scored 24 in the first innings, is part of India’s squad for the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa starting November 14.

(By PTI Inputs)