India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been out of action since he got a toe fracture during the fourth Test against England in Manchester last July. Try as he might, Pant could only muster 17 runs in the first innings before being excluded from the fifth Test. He finished the series with 479 runs in seven innings. Though Pant often posted updates on his recovery via social media, no specific date of return had been given, until this announcement. Cricket enthusiasts have been waiting with bated breath to know when one of India's most important players will return to the field. Pant Expected to Comeback in South Africa Series As per Jagran News, Pant will likely sit out the next two-match series against the West Indies. But if his rehabilitation goes according to schedule, he might feature in the home Tests against South Africa in November-December. A team source informed the media: "This is a crucial period for Pant. With the rehabilitation going well, he should be fit for the South Africa series." The 27-year-old's unavailability implies that he will also miss the Australia limited-over series from October 19. In his absence, youngster wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel will don the gloves. Jurel had impressed just a week back with an 140 off 197 balls in an unofficial Test against Australia A, showing he could deliver under big-match pressure. Pant's return in South Africa series will enhance India's batting unit and wicketkeeping resources, particularly under tough conditions. The fans are waiting for updates on his recovery as the Tests against the Proteas draw near. Also Read | Rishabh Pant’s Countdown to International Comeback Begins, to Join India’s CoE Next Week South Africa Tour of India Schedule Dates Match Venue Time (IST) November 14-18 1st Test Eden Gardens, Kolkata 9:30 AM November 22-26 2nd Test Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati 9:30 AM November 30 1st ODI JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi 1:30 PM December 3 2nd ODI Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur 1:30 PM December 6 3rd ODI Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam 1:30 PM December 9 1st T20I Barabati Stadium, Cuttack 7:00 PM December 11 2nd T20I Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh 7:00 PM December 14 3rd T20I Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala 7:00 PM December 17 4th T20I Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow 7:00 PM December 19 5th T20I Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad 7:00 PM As India gears up for future matches, Pant's return is likely to give the team a strong boost and introduce experience in both batting and wicketkeeping.