Big boost for India, Rishabh Pant given fitness clearance from CoE, jets off for New Zealand

In a massive boost for Team India ahead of their two-match Test series against New Zealand, star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has officially received his fitness clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. As per a Cricinfo report, with the green light confirmed on Thursday, November 12, Pant has already departed for Wellington to link up with Shubman Gill’s squad, bringing much-needed relief to the Indian dressing room before the red-ball opener begins at the Basin Reserve on November 19.

Rishabh Pant cleared by BCCI CoE, flies to New Zealand ahead of NZ Tests

Pant’s inclusion in the Test squad was originally made subject to passing mandatory Return-to-Play (RTP) protocols. Over the past several weeks, the medical and strength-and-conditioning staff at the BCCI CoE closely monitored his recovery, gradually increasing his physical workload across batting, wicketkeeping, and high-intensity running drills.

To prove his match readiness for the grueling demands of five-day cricket, Pant underwent two comprehensive fitness and match-simulation tests on Tuesday, November 10, and Wednesday, November 11. Having come through both sessions without any signs of discomfort or stiffness, the CoE medical panel issued his final clearance certificate on Thursday. While he missed all three four-day unofficial Tests for India A against New Zealand A during his recovery, his arrival in Wellington gives him nearly a week of intensive net sessions at the Basin Reserve to acclimatize before the first Test gets underway.

Rishabh Pant's 'side strain' setback in Irani Cup

Pant’s latest spell on the sidelines stemmed from an injury sustained in early October while captaining the Rest of India side against Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir in the Irani Cup in Srinagar. During the match, the 29-year-old suffered a left-side strain—an injury affecting the torso and abdominal muscles critical for explosive batting rotation, diving behind the stumps, and throwing.

The timing of the strain was particularly frustrating, as Pant had been slated to feature in the India A tour of New Zealand to gain valuable red-ball game time ahead of the senior Test assignment. Instead, he was ruled out of the domestic season opener as well as the entire India A leg, checking into the CoE in Bengaluru for a structured rehabilitation program focused on restoring core strength, rotational mobility, and endurance.

Rishabh Pant’s injury timeline

Pant’s return to the Indian Test side adds another chapter to a career that has repeatedly tested his physical resilience, particularly following his life-altering accident in late 2022: 

December 2022 – Near-Fatal Car Crash: Pant survived a horrific highway accident near Roorkee, sustaining severe multiple-ligament tears (ACL, PCL, and LCL) in his right knee, along with fractures and injuries to his wrist, ankle, toe, back, and forehead. The trauma sidelined him from competitive cricket for nearly 15 months before he staged a remarkable comeback in early 2024.

July 2025 – Foot/Toe Fracture in England: While in scintillating form during the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Pant suffered a fractured left foot after being struck on the toe by a yorker from Chris Woakes. Despite visibly limping, he famously walked out to bat the next day to score a gritty half-century, though the fracture subsequently ruled him out of the fifth Test at The Oval and the home series against the West Indies in October 2025.

November 2025 – Forearm Blow: Shortly after returning to action as captain of India A against South Africa A, Pant took a sharp blow on his left forearm from pacer Tshepo Moreki, forcing him off the field temporarily.

January 2026 – Right-Sided Oblique Tear: Days before India’s home ODI series against New Zealand, Pant suffered a right-sided lateral abdominal oblique muscle tear during training, ruling him out of the 50-over fixtures.

2026 – Impact Knocks: During the 2026 IPL, he endured a painful blow to the elbow from Josh Hazlewood, and in August 2026, during the Test tour of Sri Lanka, a rising delivery from Lahiru Kumara struck his glove strap, forcing him to retire hurt briefly with a swollen wrist.

October 2026, Left-Side Strain: The abdominal muscle strain picked up during the Irani Cup kept him out of action for over a month before his clearance on November 12.

Why Pant’s presence is crucial for India in New Zealand?

With valuable ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points on the line, Pant’s availability transforms the complexion of India’s batting lineup for several critical reasons:

New Zealand pitches, especially early in the season at venues like the Basin Reserve in Wellington and Hagley Oval in Christchurch, typically offer pronounced seam movement, swing, and steep bounce. Traditional defensive batting can often leave visiting sides bogged down until a unplayable delivery arrives. Pant’s ability to disrupt bowlers' lengths, step down the track, and score at a career Test strike rate of over 74 shifts pressure squarely back onto the opposition.

With India’s top and middle order heavily reliant on right-handers such as KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Devdutt Padikkal, Pant provides a vital left-handed option at No. 5 or No. 6, forcing New Zealand’s tall pace attack—led by Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, and Kyle Jamieson, to constantly adjust their lines.

Alongside KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah, Pant is one of the very few players in the current Indian squad who featured during India’s previous Test tour of New Zealand in 2020. Having accumulated 3,725 runs in 52 Tests at an average of 43.82 (with eight centuries and 21 fifties), his experience in SENA conditions is irreplaceable.

Rishabh Pant’s performance in his last 10 Test innings

Across his last 10 Test innings, spanning the 2025 tour of England, the home series against South Africa, the one-off Test against Afghanistan in June 2026, and the two-match series in Sri Lanka in August 2026, Pant has amassed 438 runs at an average of 43.80 and an aggressive strike rate of 78.63, registering four half-centuries while consistently providing momentum in the middle order.

Notably, Pant has departed for New Zealand early on Thursday morning and will join the India's Test squad in Wellington on Friday, November 13.