Rishabh Pant Cleared for Fitness, Heads to New Zealand for Test Series

Rishabh Pant's Fitness Clearance and Departure

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], November 12: Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been given the green light by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team and has departed for New Zealand early Thursday in preparation for India's upcoming Test series, as reported by a sports news outlet.

Currently, India is engaged in a five-match ODI series against New Zealand, with the fourth ODI scheduled for Friday. Following this, a two-Test series will commence on November 19.

Pant is set to join the Indian Test squad in Wellington on Friday. He has been recuperating from a side strain he suffered during the Irani Cup held in Srinagar from October 1 to 4, where he led the Rest of India team.

Since October 23, the wicketkeeper-batter has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. He was included in both the Test squad for the New Zealand tour and the India A squad for the four-day matches against New Zealand A, contingent on his fitness clearance.

Initially, Pant was expected to participate in the third four-day match between India A and New Zealand A, which took place from November 7 to 10. However, his rehabilitation period was extended as the BCCI medical team determined he required more time at the CoE for a thorough fitness evaluation.

In Wellington, Pant will reunite with captain Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Anshul Kamboj, who had departed the ODI squad after the third match of the five-game series to prepare for the Tests.

As for the ODIs, the visiting team currently leads the rain-affected series 2-0. The third ODI at Seddon Park, Hamilton, was abandoned due to rain. Consequently, after losing the first two ODIs to India, the best the Kiwis can achieve is a draw by winning the remaining two matches. Meanwhile, the Men in Blue are on track for their first ODI series victory in New Zealand since the 2018-19 season.