Rishabh Pant awaits second fitness test ahead of New Zealand Test series

Rishabh Pant is unlikely to play India A's third unofficial Test against New Zealand A in Lincoln from November 7 to 10. The wicketkeeper-batter is undergoing rehabilitation and must clear a second fitness test before joining the Test squad

New Delhi: India’s best overseas Test batter, Rishabh Pant, is unlikely to feature in India A’s third unofficial Test against New Zealand A in Lincoln from November 7 to 10, as he is yet to be declared fit following the side strain he sustained during the Irani Cup game in Srinagar last month.

Pant is undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and is yet to clear the fitness test required to join the squad for the India A unofficial Tests against New Zealand A.

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It is understood that the 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who has scored Test centuries in England, Australia and South Africa, might join the squad directly in Wellington if he clears the mandatory second fitness test in the next few days.

“There is very little chance that Pant will play the third unofficial Test against New Zealand A. The team management might want to give him a few days more to recover and join the team for the Test series and train in Wellington. There will be clarity after his second fitness test,” a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.