Rishabh Pant set for fitness clearance, to leave for New Zealand on November 12

In a big boost for the Indian team ahead of the start of the New Zealand Test series, Rishabh Pant has stepped up his recovery and is expected to get his final fitness clearance on Thursday, November 12. If things go according to plan, Pant is expected to fly to New Zealand on Thursday and join the squad directly ahead of the first Test.

Pant, 28, did not clear his initial fitness test at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on November 1. He is expected to undergo a fresh assessment shortly as he continues his recovery from the injury.

The wicketkeeper-batter picked up a side strain earlier in October while



captaining Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir in the Irani Cup in Srinagar. The setback ruled him out of the three unofficial Tests between India A and New Zealand A. Pant has been at the CoE since October 23, working through his rehabilitation programme.

Pant's recovery has progressed well and the workload is slowly being increased. The wicketkeeper-batter will undergo two match simulations on November 10 and 11.

If the simulations go according to plan and the assessment is satisfactory the COE will issue the clearance certificate for Pant and he will be heading to New Zealand for the first Test.