Rishabh Pant gets another chance to prove fitness ahead of New Zealand Tests

Rishabh Pant gets another chance to prove fitness ahead of New Zealand Tests

Rishabh Pant Faces Second Fitness Test Before India’s New Zealand Test Tour

Rishabh Pant will undergo a second fitness assessment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru after failing to clear his first test on Sunday. The wicketkeeper-batter has another chance to demonstrate that he is ready to return to competitive cricket, with his availability for India’s upcoming Test series in New Zealand dependent on medical approval.

The BCCI medical team is expected to conduct the reassessment within the next two days. Its findings will determine whether Pant can travel to New Zealand or needs more time to complete his rehabilitation. The decision is significant for India: Pant is not only a key middle-order batter but also an important wicketkeeping option in a demanding overseas series.

India’s New Zealand schedule and Pant’s possible route back

India are scheduled to begin the first Test at Wellington’s Basin Reserve on November 19. The team’s preparations include a three-match unofficial four-day series between India A and New Zealand A, with the final fixture due to start in Lincoln on November 7.

Pant was selected in both India’s 16-member Test squad and the India A squad, but his inclusion came with a clear condition: he must receive medical clearance. He has missed the first two India A matches while continuing his recovery at the CoE, where he has been based since October 23.

Reports indicate that Pant has resumed batting and wicketkeeping drills. Passing the second fitness test could allow him to join India A for the final match in Lincoln—a useful opportunity to build match readiness before the senior team’s assignment. However, clearance to travel would not necessarily guarantee immediate selection; the team management would still need to assess his fitness, workload and form.

Recent match appearances and recovery timeline

Pant’s most recent competitive outing came in the Irani Cup against Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar in early October. He scored 10 and 8 in the match, which his side won by 167 runs. He did not take the field on the final day after developing a fever and later missed Delhi’s opening fixture of the 2026–27 Ranji Trophy season.

His time at the CoE has focused on rebuilding fitness and returning to the specialist movements required of a wicketkeeper. Batting in the nets is only one part of that process: keeping for extended periods, moving laterally, diving and recovering between efforts all place different demands on the body. The second assessment is therefore likely to provide the medical staff with a broader picture of whether Pant can cope with the intensity of a four-day match.

Jasprit Bumrah expected to play for India A

While Pant’s participation remains uncertain, Jasprit Bumrah is expected to travel to New Zealand on Sunday and feature in India A’s third four-day match. The fast bowler completed his ready-for-play routine at the CoE last week after training and bowling in Ahmedabad, where he is based.

Bumrah’s appearance would offer him a chance to return to competitive cricket before India’s upcoming international commitments. For a fast bowler, match preparation involves more than simply completing practice sessions: bowling spells in a game provides valuable information about rhythm, workload and recovery. His involvement in Lincoln could therefore help the team gauge his readiness while giving India A a major boost against New Zealand A.

Kumar Kushagra joined the squad, but Jurel kept wicket

After Pant was ruled out of the first two India A fixtures on October 12, selectors added uncapped wicketkeeper Kumar Kushagra to the squad. Kushagra did not play in either match, with captain Dhruv Jurel taking responsibility behind the stumps.

That arrangement has allowed India A to continue its preparation without rushing Pant back. If the senior wicketkeeper passes his second test, the Lincoln match could provide a practical bridge between rehabilitation and the demands of international Test cricket. If he does not, the medical team may opt for a more cautious approach rather than risk a setback during a major tour.

Pant’s injury history raises the stakes

Pant has faced several physical setbacks since returning to competitive cricket after a lengthy absence following his car accident. In July 2025, he fractured a toe during the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Manchester. An inside edge off a reverse sweep sent the ball onto his right foot, and Pant retired hurt on 37 before being taken from the field on a buggy.

Despite the discomfort, he later returned to bat, but the injury ruled him out of the series finale at The Oval. He also missed the subsequent Test series against the West Indies and the white-ball portion of India’s tour of Australia while recovering.

He has also been struck by fast bowlers in more recent matches. During an IPL 2026 game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, a Josh Hazlewood bouncer forced him to retire hurt. On India’s tour of Sri Lanka, a delivery from Lahiru Kumara hit his left forearm as Pant attempted a pull shot. He retired on three but returned the following morning to make a vital 63.

What the fitness decision could mean for India

Pant’s attacking style and ability to change the pace of a Test innings make him a valuable presence, particularly in challenging overseas conditions. His keeping also gives India flexibility in team selection. But with a history of injuries and a recent period away from matches, the priority will be ensuring he can perform consistently rather than simply clearing him for travel.

The second fitness test is therefore an important checkpoint, not just a formality. A successful result could put Pant on course to join India A in Lincoln and build match sharpness before the Wellington Test. If he falls short, India may need to rely on other wicketkeeping options while allowing him additional recovery time.

For now, the prediction around Pant’s availability remains uncertain. His return to batting and keeping drills is encouraging, but the final call will rest on the medical assessment and his ability to handle the physical demands of a full match. India will be eager to have one of its most influential players available, while taking care not to compromise his longer-term fitness.

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