India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been cleared by the BCCI medical team and departed for New Zealand on Thursday ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series.
Pant is expected to join the Indian Test squad in Wellington on Friday. He had been recovering from a side strain sustained during the Irani Cup, held in Srinagar from October 1 to 4, where he captained the Rest of India side.
The 28-year-old had been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru since October 23. Although he was named in India’s Test squad for the New Zealand tour as well as the India A team for the four-day matches against New Zealand A, his participation was subject to fitness clearance.
Pant missed the first two India A matches and was initially expected to feature in the third fixture, which took place from November 7 to 10. However, the medical team extended his rehabilitation, asking him to spend additional time at the CoE before assessing his readiness.
He will now link up with captain Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Anshul Kamboj, who have already left the ongoing ODI squad after the third match to prepare for the Test assignments.
India’s two-Test series against New Zealand begins on November 19. The return of Pant will provide the team with another wicketkeeping option and add depth to the batting line-up ahead of the longer-format contests.
Meanwhile, India are leading the ongoing five-match ODI series 2-0. The third match at Seddon Park in Hamilton was abandoned due to rain, leaving New Zealand with the task of winning both remaining games to level the series.
India, on the other hand, are in a strong position to register their first ODI series victory in New Zealand since the 2018-19 season. The fourth ODI is scheduled to be played on Friday.
