Rishabh Pant Fails Fitness Test at BCCI CoE Before New Zealand Tour

Rishabh Pant has failed a fitness test at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Sunday, 1 November 2026, putting his availability for India’s New Zealand tour in doubt. The wicketkeeper-batter was not cleared at the assessment, but the BCCI medical staff are expected to conduct a second test within the next two days before deciding whether he can travel.

The setback is a blow for India ahead of a demanding series. Pant is a key member of the batting order and an important presence behind the stumps, so his recovery is being closely watched by the team management and fans.

How the Injury Happened

Pant sustained a side strain during the Irani Cup in early October, while leading Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir. He has since been rehabilitating at the BCCI CoE in Bengaluru, where he has been based since 23 October.

Because of his recovery, he missed the first two four-day matches between India A and New Zealand A. Kumar Kushagra was named as his replacement for those games, while Pant remained in the squads for the two-Test series, subject to fitness clearance.

The Next Steps

If Pant clears the second test, he is likely to join the India A squad for the third four-day match against New Zealand A. That game is scheduled to start on 7 November in Lincoln, and it is intended as preparation for the Test series.

The first Test against New Zealand begins in Wellington on 19 November. Reports say Pant has resumed batting and wicketkeeping drills at the CoE, which suggests his recovery is progressing, even though he has not yet passed the formal assessment.

Key Details at a Glance

Why the Test Matters

The fitness test is more than a formality. Pant’s selection for the New Zealand series depends on it, and the window to prepare is narrowing. The BCCI medical team will need to be confident that he can handle the demands of multi-day cricket before clearing him to fly.

Reports say the BCCI wants to manage Pant carefully before a series considered important for India’s World Test Championship hopes.

What It Means for India

India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter is central to their batting plans, so his availability will shape selection decisions for the Test series. The team will need to weigh whether to wait for Pant or go into the series with an alternative. Kushagra’s involvement in the India A matches gives the selectors an option if Pant is not ready in time.

For Pant, the test represents a chance to prove his fitness and secure a place in a series that matters to India’s standing in the World Test Championship cycle.

What Comes Next

The result of the second assessment, expected within two days, will decide whether Pant travels to New Zealand. If he passes, he will be expected to feature in the India A match before the first Test. If he does not, India will need to make a call on alternatives for the series.

Fans will be hoping for a positive update, as Pant’s presence would strengthen India’s batting and their wicketkeeping options against New Zealand.

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