Rishabh Pant shares recovery update ahead of India vs New Zealand Tests

Rishabh Pant shares recovery update ahead of India vs New Zealand Tests

Rishabh Pant Begins Batting Practice as India Await Fitness Update Ahead of New Zealand Tests

Rishabh Pant has taken an encouraging step in his recovery, returning to batting practice in the nets as India prepare for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand. The wicketkeeper-batter remains a doubt for the opening match, but his latest update offers hope that he could be available if he makes sufficient progress in the coming days.

Pant shared a video of himself batting on social media on Thursday, November 5, alongside a short message expressing his love for the game. The clip does not confirm a return date, and India’s medical staff are expected to assess him before making a decision. Still, the sight of Pant facing deliveries is a welcome development for a team balancing immediate selection questions with the demands of the World Test Championship race.

India’s New Zealand Tour Moves Into a Crucial Phase

India’s tour of New Zealand includes five T20 internationals, five one-day internationals and two Tests. The T20I series has concluded, while the ODI campaign is underway. The Test matches will bring the tour’s most significant challenge, with India seeking a result that strengthens its position in the World Test Championship standings.

India will be eager to win the Test series, although avoiding defeat could also prove important to its hopes of reaching the WTC final. The opening Test is scheduled to begin on November 19, making Pant’s recovery timeline a key talking point as the team approaches the final stages of preparation.

The supplied tour details describe India as leading the ODI series 0-1 after the opening match. With the limited-overs fixtures still forming part of the wider tour, the team’s management will also be mindful of workload and player fitness before the longer format begins.

Pant’s Availability for the First Test Remains Uncertain

Pant has been included in India’s Test squad, but his selection comes with a fitness caveat. He is recovering from a left-side strain sustained during the Irani Cup, with additional wrist and shoulder concerns also contributing to the cautious approach around his return. A place in the squad, therefore, does not guarantee that he will be cleared to play.

India’s medical team is understood to be prioritising a complete recovery over a rushed comeback. Batting in the nets is an important milestone, but it is only one part of the assessment. Pant will still need to demonstrate that he can move comfortably, manage the demands of a full training session and withstand the physical workload of a Test match.

That distinction matters particularly for a wicketkeeper. Keeping for long periods places sustained pressure on the legs, back and shoulders, while batting in the middle order requires quick movement and the ability to respond to changing match situations. India are unlikely to take a risk unless the medical staff are satisfied that Pant is ready for both responsibilities.

Rehabilitation Has Kept Pant Out of India A Matches

The 29-year-old has already missed the two unofficial Test matches between India A and New Zealand A and is expected to sit out the third as well. He has been continuing his rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru rather than joining the India A side for match practice.

His absence from those fixtures has limited his opportunity to build up through competitive cricket, but it also reflects the board’s measured approach. India’s coaching staff and selectors will want to see how he responds to increased training loads before considering him for a high-intensity international contest.

After the fifth T20I, head coach Gautam Gambhir was asked about Pant’s chances of playing the first Test. Gambhir said he did not have a definitive update at that point, underlining that the final call would depend on the medical assessment rather than assumption or squad status.

Why India Are Taking Extra Care

Pant’s latest injury followed his appearance in the Irani Cup, where he captained the Rest of India side against the reigning Ranji Trophy champions. He sustained a strain during the match and was unable to continue keeping wicket. Sarfaraz Khan took over the captaincy in his absence, although Pant was able to bat in both innings.

The setback came after a period in which Pant had already dealt with fitness issues. He also did not keep wickets during India’s Test match against Sri Lanka following a shoulder problem. With several concerns affecting different aspects of his game, the medical staff have reason to be cautious about clearing him too soon.

The squad listing reportedly included an indication that Pant would feature only if fully fit. That condition reflects the importance of avoiding a recurrence, especially with a demanding Test schedule ahead. A premature return could not only rule him out of the New Zealand series but also disrupt India’s plans for the wider international season.

What Pant Could Bring to India’s Test Line-Up

When fit, Pant offers India a rare combination: a left-handed batter capable of changing the pace of a match and a wicketkeeper with substantial experience at the highest level. His attacking approach can put pressure on bowlers, particularly when a team needs to counter-attack after losing wickets or accelerate during a difficult passage of play.

His record in SENA countries—South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia—has made him one of India’s most influential wicketkeeper-batters in challenging overseas conditions. The supplied figures credit him with six Test centuries in those countries, the most by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter. Although he has yet to score a Test century in New Zealand, his broader overseas record illustrates why his fitness is attracting so much attention.

New Zealand’s conditions can test visiting batters with movement through the air and off the surface. Pant’s ability to counterattack could give India a different option in the middle order, but that value must be weighed against the risk of selecting a player who is not physically ready for the full demands of a Test.

Prediction: India Likely to Wait for Medical Clearance

The most realistic prediction is that India will continue to monitor Pant closely and make the final decision nearer to the first Test. His return to net batting is positive, but it does not by itself confirm that he will play on November 19. The key indicators will be how his body responds to progressively harder sessions and whether he can complete wicketkeeping drills without discomfort.

If he is cleared, Pant could provide a significant boost to India’s batting depth and energy behind the stumps. If he is not, the team will need to rely on its alternative wicketkeeping options rather than compromise his recovery. For now, the video signals progress—not a confirmed comeback—and India’s priority will be ensuring that Pant returns only when he is genuinely ready.

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