Rishabh Pant is on his way back. The wicketkeeper-batter has been declared completely fit by the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, and is expected to fly to New Zealand on Thursday, November 12, to join the Indian squad for the two-Test series that begins on November 19.
It is the news India have been waiting for since early October, when Pant pulled up with a side strain while captaining Rest of India in the Irani Cup. The injury kept him out of all three India A unofficial Tests, and for a while it looked as if the senior side might have to start the tour without him.
Two days of simulations sealed the comeback
Pant has spent the last few weeks rehabbing at the CoE, with his workload increased gradually. He failed his first fitness test there on November 1 and did not receive the mandatory Return to Play certificate, which is why he stayed back while the India A side toured New Zealand.
The final stage of his recovery was a pair of match simulation sessions, scheduled for November 10 and 11. A BCCI source told PTI that Pant looked comfortable in the nets during batting and wicketkeeping drills, and that the plan was clear.
“Pant is completely fit. He is undergoing the match simulation drills at the CoE today and there is one round (of simulation) scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday),” the source said. “Upon successful completion of both rounds, Pant will then leave for Wellington on November 12.”
The formal clearance is expected on November 12, after the medical team signs off on the second simulation. If that goes as planned, Pant will link up with the squad in Wellington.
The injury that kept him out
Pant picked up the side strain in early October while leading Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir in the Irani Cup in Srinagar. The selectors had still named him in the India A squad for the unofficial Tests against New Zealand A, subject to fitness, but the clearance never came and he was withdrawn.
He missed all three four-day games. The third, at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, ended in a draw on November 10, with eight Test squad players featuring in it.
India’s Test preparatory camp in Wellington begins on Wednesday, November 11, under batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and fast-bowling coach Morne Morkel. Captain Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are travelling early for the practice sessions before the opening Test.
Why Pant’s return matters
Pant is one of only three players in the current squad who has played Test cricket in New Zealand before, from the tour in 2020. That experience counts on pitches where the ball moves early and the conditions punish loose batting.
There is also a milestone in sight. Pant needs 52 more runs to become the first Indian batter to complete 3,000 runs in World Test Championship history. It is the kind of landmark that adds an edge to an already important series.
The series carries real weight in the WTC 2025-27 standings. India are currently fourth, with a win percentage of 51.52, and the two Tests are crucial to keeping their hopes of reaching the final alive.
- First Test: November 19 to 23, Basin Reserve, Wellington
- Second Test: November 27 to December 1, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- India’s position: Fourth in the WTC standings, 51.52 per cent
- Pant’s milestone: 52 runs away from 3,000 WTC runs
What happens next
Dhruv Jurel has been named as the second wicketkeeper and will take the gloves if Pant is not cleared to keep. But the expectation now is that Pant will be available from the first Test.
The squad, led by Shubman Gill, also includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
For Pant, the next 24 hours are the final hurdle. One more simulation, one more medical sign-off, and then a flight to Wellington. After a month on the sidelines, the comeback is almost complete.
FAQs
When will Rishabh Pant fly to New Zealand?
He is expected to leave for Wellington on Thursday, November 12, once he completes his final match simulation and receives formal fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
What injury kept Pant out?
He suffered a side strain while captaining Rest of India in the Irani Cup in early October. The injury ruled him out of all three India A unofficial Tests against New Zealand A.
When does the Test series start?
The first Test begins on November 19 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The second Test starts on November 27 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
Who will keep wickets if Pant is not ready?
Dhruv Jurel is the second wicketkeeper in the squad and will take the gloves if Pant is not cleared to keep.
What milestone is Pant close to?
He needs 52 more runs to become the first Indian batter to reach 3,000 runs in World Test Championship history.
If the final clearance comes through, Pant walks back into the side as one of its most important players, just in time for a series India cannot afford to lose.
