BCCI Medical Team to Assess Rishabh Pant's Readiness This Week

Pending Fitness Clearance: Rishabh Pant must pass another fitness assessment in the coming days before the BCCI's medical team clears him to fly to New Zealand for the two-Test series starting November 19 in Wellington.

Current Location & Recovery: Pant has been at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru since October 23, recovering from a side strain sustained during the Irani Cup in early October.

The selectors had picked the uncapped Kumar Kushagra for the first two four-dayers against New Zealand A once Pant was ruled out of those games on October 12. Kushagra didn't play, though, with Dhruv Jurel, also the captain of the side, keeping wicket. Jurel is also part of the Test squad.

Potential Schedule & India A Involvement

Possible Warm-Up: If cleared, Pant is slated to join the India A squad for the third four-day match against New Zealand A, which begins in Lincoln on November 7.

Previous Delays: Although named in both the India A and senior Test squads, his availability was made subject to fitness, causing him to be ruled out of the first two games of the India A tour.

Additional Squad Movements

Jasprit Bumrah's Departure: Jasprit Bumrah departed for New Zealand on Sunday and is expected to feature in the third four-day fixture for India A. Bumrah has been out of competitive action since the Asian Games final in early October and completed his ready-for-play routine at the CoE last week.