Rishabh Pant Fails First BCCI Fitness Test, Faces Second Assessment Before New Zealand Tour

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant failed his first fitness assessment at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on Sunday, November 1. The failed evaluation leaves his inclusion in India’s upcoming Test series against New Zealand hanging in the balance as he continues his recovery from a side strain.

Pant has been granted a second opportunity to clear the physical fitness assessment at the Bengaluru facility before the national squad departs for the tour. The BCCI medical team has scheduled this second test for around November 9 and November 10, giving the wicketkeeper-batter a narrow window to demonstrate full recovery from his side strain to both national selectors and team management.

Rehabilitation timetable and New Zealand tour plans

The Centre of Excellence officially updated the Indian team management on Saturday regarding Pant’s recovery timeline and daily progress. According to the update provided from the Bengaluru facility, the wicketkeeper-batter has already begun cricket drills on the field and in the nets, even though he failed to pass the strict physical standards during his initial test on November 1.

Pant will not be featured in any India ‘A’ fixtures to build match practice ahead of the international series. Instead, the team management is treating the New Zealand Tests as a distinct possibility without domestic warm-up games. If he passes the second test around November 9 or 10, he could join the squad directly and fly out to New Zealand, potentially featuring in the Wellington Test.

The decision on Pant comes as team management monitors squad readiness alongside star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. If Pant fails to clear this second assessment at the Centre of Excellence, he will miss the tour of New Zealand entirely and will be asked to participate in a full domestic season to prove his long-term match fitness.

Viral IPL moment and personal assets

Pant’s race against time to regain fitness follows recent public attention surrounding his performances in the Indian Premier League. During a match between Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders, a viral video showed Kolkata Knight Riders batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi celebrating Pant’s dismissal. Raghuvanshi, who was subbed out of the game and sitting in the dugout when KKR successfully took the wicket, shouted “F*** Off” in an explosive reaction that quickly spread across social media.

Off the field, details regarding Pant’s lifestyle highlight his position as one of Indian cricket’s top figures. The star keeper-batter owns a residence in Delhi valued at ₹3 crore, alongside his primary home in Roorkee, reflecting his net worth and standing in the sport.

All focus now shifts to the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for the November 9-10 trial, where BCCI medical officials will determine whether Pant boards the flight for the New Zealand Test series or faces a longer stint in domestic cricket.