Published on: Nov 12, 2026 5:36 pm IST|Updated on: Nov 12, 2026 5:36 pm IST
Team India has received a massive boost ahead of the Test series against New Zealand. Star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has successfully obtained his fitness clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru and will fly to New Zealand to link up with the rest of the Test squad.
Pant has been on the sidelines recovering from a side strain injury that he sustained earlier in October while captaining the Rest of India side during the Irani Cup match in Srinagar. Because of the injury, his selection for the New Zealand tour was kept strictly subject to clearing mandatory rehabilitation milestones.
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Following the setback, Pant spent weeks at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru to attain full recovery and underwent intensive training and monitoring. Though he was initially named in the India A squad for the practice games against New Zealand A, the medical team advised him to extend his recovery window to regain full fitness.
As noted by Cricbuzz, the hard work paid off during his final evaluations. A report highlighted his progress:
“Pant has had productive batting and wicketkeeping sessions at the CoE, where he has looked comfortable in the nets.”
Rishabh underwent rigorous batting drills, wicketkeeping assessments, and multi-day match simulations on November 10 and 11, before the medical team officially gave him the green signal to fly to New Zealand.
Rishabh Pant may no longer be the vice-captain of India’s Test side, but he remains a core member of the red-ball team, particularly for their away tours. Having worn 52 Test caps, his experience playing in overseas conditions—including crucial hundreds in Australia, England, and South Africa—makes him an invaluable asset for the team.
Pant is one of those batters who isn’t reluctant to play his shots even when the team’s back is against the wall. His nonchalant batting approach in red-ball cricket has turned him into a proven match-winner and one of the most fearless Test batters in world cricket currently.
Team India’s preparations for the opening Test at the Cello Basin Reserve in Wellington on November 19 are seemingly on track. Skipper Shubman Gill and vice-captain KL Rahul have already been released from the ODI squad to commence their preparations for the upcoming two-match Test series, with the second Test slated to be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch starting November 27.
With Rishabh Pant finally receiving his fitness clearance and set to join the Test squad in New Zealand, Team India has surely got a massive boost. He will be one of the lynchpins in the middle order for the visitors and an X-factor for Captain Shubman Gill.
As far as the ongoing ODI series is concerned, Team India will be playing the final two games against the Blackcaps without the services of KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. Shreyas Iyer will be taking over the captaincy, with Team India already leading 2-0 in the five-match series and are assured of either a win or leveling the series if the Blackcaps win the remaining two fixtures.