Rishabh Pant set for final fitness test ahead of New Zealand Tests

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is on track to join the national squad for the upcoming two-Test series in New Zealand, pending a final assessment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) on November 12. He is expected to receive full medical clearance following the simulation test.

Pant has been sidelined from action since suffering a side strain while playing for Rest of India against Jammu & Kashmir during the Irani Cup match in Srinagar. The injury subsequently ruled him out of India’s second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, after which he spent his recovery period completing rehabilitation at the CoE.

During his time at the facility, Pant has completed productive net sessions focusing on both his batting and wicketkeeping duties. Recent updates and social media images from his training routines show the keeper-batter moving comfortably and displaying solid form in the nets.

Although Pant was initially named in the India ‘A’ squad for three warm-up fixtures preceding the Test series, he missed those matches while awaiting final clearance. Once passed fit, he is scheduled to fly out early to New Zealand ahead of the opening Test, which starts at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on November 17. The tour will conclude with the second Test in Christchurch, beginning November 27.