Rishabh Pant Cleared Fit for New Zealand Tests After Side Strain

Rishabh Pant has been cleared fit for India's Test series in New Zealand. The wicketkeeper batter received fitness clearance from the BCCI medical staff and the Centre of Excellence, and he left for New Zealand early on Thursday morning, ESPNcricinfo reported. He will link up with the India Test squad in Wellington on Friday.

The clearance closes a recovery that has run for more than a month. Pant suffered a left-side abdominal strain in early October, during the Irani Cup between Oct 1 and Oct 4, 2026, in Srinagar, where he captained the Rest of India squad, ESPNcricinfo reported. The 29-year-old was sidelined for over a month.

Rehab in Bengaluru

Pant has been doing his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru since Oct 23, 2026. He underwent two fitness and simulation tests on Nov 10 and Nov 11, 2026, before the Centre of Excellence gave its approval on Thursday, Nov 12, 2026, Cricbuzz reported.

While he recovered, Pant was ruled out of the first two four-day matches between India A and New Zealand A, and he then missed the third fixture between November 7 and 10 as well, ESPNcricinfo reported. Sportskeeda reported that he missed the India A tour of New Zealand after failing to receive a Return to Play certificate on time.

A squad place that waited on this call

When India announced the Test squad for the two-match series in New Zealand, Pant was picked with an asterisk. His inclusion was subject to fitness clearance, Cricbuzz reported. That condition has now been met, a week before the series begins.

In Wellington, Pant will join the Test squad along with captain Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Anshul Kamboj, who left the ODI squad after the third of five matches to prepare for the Test series, ESPNcricinfo reported.

The series ahead

The first Test begins on Nov 19, 2026, in Wellington. The second Test starts on Nov 27, 2026, in Christchurch, Cricbuzz reported.

Pant's return gives India their first choice wicketkeeper batter for the series, provided he comes through the final training days in Wellington without a setback. His clearance was the last open fitness question in the squad announcement, and it has now been answered in his favour.

Why the wait mattered

His was the squad place carrying the asterisk when the team was announced, so India had to plan for two versions of their side while his tests were still pending. The two simulation tests on Nov 10 and Nov 11, 2026 were set up to settle that question before the squad gathered in Wellington, and the approval on Nov 12, 2026 gives the team a full week with its first choice keeper in camp before the first Test. The first Test is at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, and the second is in Christchurch.