Sports

Pant Faces Fitness Test Ahead of Possible NZ Test Call‑Up

By Vijay Tagore

Rishabh Pant is unlikely to play the third unofficial Test between India ’A’ and New Zealand ’A’, scheduled in Lincoln from 7 to 10 November. The wicket‑keeper‑batter will undergo a fitness assessment around 9–10 November, and if cleared he may fly to New Zealand to join the Indian squad for the Test series. Pant, 29, has been out of international cricket since the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in late August. He led Rest of India in the Irani Cup but could not finish the engagement due to fitness problems and has been recovering from a side strain at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He remains a key member of the Indian Test side, having scored three half‑centuries in his last three Tests and 479 runs in four Tests on the 2023 tour of England. No recent fitness tests have been conducted, and none are scheduled in the coming days. If he joins the Test squad as expected, he will do so without a warm‑up game, while most of his teammates will have had some game time before the two five‑day matches. Pant was initially named in the India ’A’ squad for the three four‑day matches, with the BCCI making his participation subject to fitness. A formal clearance has not yet been issued, but sources say there is optimism about his recovery and that he hopes to travel to New Zealand around 10–11 November after clearance from the CoE medical team. Jasprit Bumrah is expected to be available for the third India ’A’ game and should join the squad in time for the third four‑day game in Lincoln, beginning 7 November.