📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ben Sutherland from Crystal Palace, London, UK
Sports
Rishabh Pant to Undergo Fitness Test Ahead of New Zealand Tour
✍️ Asianet Newsable
🗓 02 Nov 2026, 05:38 PM
👁 18
India's wicket‑keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has been slated for another fitness assessment as the national side readies for its New Zealand series.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has instructed wicket‑keeper batsman Rishabh Pant to report for a medical fitness evaluation before the team's forthcoming tour of New Zealand. The move comes after the player missed the recent series due to a shoulder injury and has been under close observation during his rehabilitation.
Team officials said the assessment will focus on Pant's shoulder stability, overall endurance and readiness to handle the rigors of an overseas tour. The timing aligns with the pre‑tour camp scheduled in early December, allowing the management to make final squad decisions based on the results.
If cleared, Pant is expected to rejoin the Indian side for the opening warm‑up matches in New Zealand, where his aggressive batting and glovework are considered vital for the team's middle order. A failure to meet the required standards could see him omitted from the playing XI, prompting further scrutiny of his comeback timeline.
The BCCI has not disclosed the exact date of the test, but sources indicate it will be conducted at the team's medical facility in Mumbai, where Pant has been undergoing physiotherapy since his injury.
Pant's fitness status remains a focal point for fans and analysts, as his return could bolster India's batting depth ahead of a challenging series against a strong New Zealand side.
Team officials said the assessment will focus on Pant's shoulder stability, overall endurance and readiness to handle the rigors of an overseas tour. The timing aligns with the pre‑tour camp scheduled in early December, allowing the management to make final squad decisions based on the results.
If cleared, Pant is expected to rejoin the Indian side for the opening warm‑up matches in New Zealand, where his aggressive batting and glovework are considered vital for the team's middle order. A failure to meet the required standards could see him omitted from the playing XI, prompting further scrutiny of his comeback timeline.
The BCCI has not disclosed the exact date of the test, but sources indicate it will be conducted at the team's medical facility in Mumbai, where Pant has been undergoing physiotherapy since his injury.
Pant's fitness status remains a focal point for fans and analysts, as his return could bolster India's batting depth ahead of a challenging series against a strong New Zealand side.