India pick Wriddhiman Saha over Rishabh Pant for first South Africa Test

The recall for Saha will see the 34-year-old play his first international match for 22 months, having suffered injuries which initially saw Pant fill the breach

Virat Kohli has confirmed that Wriddhiman Saha will keep wicket for India in the first Test against South Africa.

The decision means that Rishabh Pant, the highly rated 21-year-old, who scored his maiden Test hundred against England in 2018, has been dropped from the side.

The recall for Saha will see the 34-year-old play his first international match for 22 months, having suffered injuries which initially saw Pant fill the breach.

Pant then impressed with his century at The Oval, before adding a second against Australia at Sydney.

However, after making just 58 runs in two Tests during India’s tour of West Indies, he has now been dropped to accommodate Saha, who is viewed as the superior wicketkeeper.

With the pitches for the series against Faf du Plessis’ outfit set to be spin-dominated, there is an added emphasis on the glovework of both Saha and Pant.

Saha is considered the best gloveman in India, giving him an advantage in the pecking order, with India selecting both Ravi Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in their team for the first Test, with just Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami as seam options.