Rishabh Pant, sidelined since the Irani Cup, is scheduled for a second fitness evaluation after an initial attempt on Sunday at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru proved inconclusive. His readiness remains crucial as India prepares for their first Test against New Zealand starting 19 November.
Pant sustained a side strain in early October but has remained in Bengaluru since 23 October, intensively focusing on his batting and wicket-keeping under the supervision of BCCI medical staff. These staff members are planning another fitness assessment in the coming days to determine his ability to travel. If deemed fit, Pant could potentially join the India A team in Lincoln for their third four-day match against New Zealand A on 7 November.
Although Pant was named in the India A squad and the subsequent Test series, an asterisk in the official press release highlighted the ambiguity around his fitness. His absence from the first two matches led selectors to bring in Kumar Kushagra as cover. However, Kushagra is yet to play, with Dhruv Jurel, who also captains the team, taking up wicket-keeping duties.
Despite hoping for Pant’s availability in Wellington, team management remains prepared with Jurel. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has already made his way to New Zealand. Bumrah, out since the Asian Games final in early October, underwent final preparations at the Centre of Excellence last week. After training in Ahmedabad, his home base, Bumrah is set to participate in the third four-day fixture for India A.
