New Delhi:Rishabh Pant is likely to return to competitive cricket in the Ranji Trophy in the last week of October. TOI understands that Pant’s right foot is slated to be assessed by BCCI’s medical team at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the coming week. “As of now, there is a likelihood he could be cleared by Oct 10. An assessment is due this week. It has been a long recovery for him. The BCCI medical team doesn’t want to take any chances with him,” a BCCI source told TOI. TOI has also learnt that Pant has conveyed his wish to play for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy to Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley. “Pant has said he should be available for the Ranji Trophy matches in Delhi from Oct 25. He has conveyed that it will be subject to fitness and clearance obtained from the BCCI medical team,” a top DDCA official told TOI. Pant missed the ongoing two-Test series against West Indies and the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia since he couldn’t recover from a fractured foot he suffered during the fourth Test against England in Manchester in the last week of July. While initially it looked like the injury would take six weeks to heal, the metatarsal of his right foot snapped due to the pressure he put on it when he turned out to bat the next day after his injury. Pant has shown remarkable recovery over the last 20 days. “Pant has not committed to any date when he can join the Delhi camp. He has asked to wait for the clearance from CoE. Playing the first-round Ranji Trophy match from Oct 15 would be very tight for him. If he is available, he is most likely to lead the team,” the DDCA official said. India are slated to play a two-Test series against South Africa at home from Nov 14. Pant may play two Ranji games until Nov 5. A call on how many Ranji matches he plays will depend on when he gets clearance from CoE and his own preparation for the South Africa series.
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