Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has received fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team and is set to join the Indian Test squad in New Zealand. Pant departed for New Zealand on November 13 and is expected to reach Wellington on November 14.
The 28-year-old had suffered a side strain while captaining the Rest of India team during the Irani Cup in Srinagar from October 1 to 4. The injury forced him to miss the first two four-day matches of the India A tour.
Pant was named in India’s Test squad for the New Zealand tour, subject to fitness clearance. He underwent rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from October 23.
According to reports, Pant was initially expected to join the squad before the third India A fixture, which took place from November 7 to 10. However, the medical team decided to extend his rehabilitation to assess his fitness further.
Pant’s Return Strengthens India’s Wicketkeeping Options
Pant’s return is a major boost for India ahead of the three-match Test series. The opening Test will begin in Wellington on November 19, while the second match is scheduled to start in Christchurch on November 27.
During Pant’s absence, Dhruv Jurel handled wicketkeeping duties in the warm-up matches. He also impressed with the bat, scoring a century and a half-century against New Zealand A.
Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal also produced strong performances during the India A fixtures. Padikkal scored 199 in one of the matches, while Sudharsan contributed 91.
However, Pant’s experience makes him a strong contender to return to the playing eleven. His availability will give the team management another reliable option behind the stumps.
The series is also important for India’s World Test Championship campaign. India will look to secure valuable points against New Zealand as they aim to strengthen their position in the standings.
India’s Test squad: Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj.
