The four-day match at Lincoln, scheduled from November 7 to 10, will go ahead without Rishabh Pant. India A's wicketkeeper-batter is set to be ruled out of the third and final unofficial fixture against New Zealand A after his recovery from a left-side strain fell short of what the BCCI medical team requires for competitive clearance. The injury dates to early October 2026, when Pant sustained the strain while captaining Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir at the Irani Cup in Srinagar.
Pant had already sat out both earlier four-day matches in the India A series against New Zealand A because of the same problem. His absence from Lincoln means he will have taken no part in any of the three unofficial Tests, a series that was intended to serve as preparation ahead of the full tour of New Zealand. Reports published around October 26, 2026 had suggested Pant was on course to return for the third match, but updated assessments of his condition reversed that expectation by November 1, 2026.
What does the BCCI medical team need before clearing Pant?
Pant has returned to skill training at the Centre of Excellence, and sources indicate he must complete three skill training sessions alongside four match simulation sessions before a formal fitness evaluation can be conducted. The BCCI medical team will assess Rishabh Pant's fitness after those sessions are completed before any clearance for competitive cricket is granted. Because no confirmed return date exists, his availability for the first Test against New Zealand, set to begin November 19 at Basin Reserve in Wellington, also remains in doubt.
"Pant has resumed skill training following his recovery. He is currently experiencing no pain, and there are no visible clinical symptoms associated with the injury. However, a definite timeline for his return to competitive cricket has not been established," the report stated as quoted by Outlook.
Pant was named in India's 16-member Test squad for the New Zealand series, but his place in the playing eleven for Wellington is contingent on the medical team granting clearance before that match starts.
Will Dhruv Jurel get the nod for Wellington if Pant is unavailable?
With Pant absent throughout the India A series, Dhruv Jurel has been the standout wicketkeeper-batter in the squad. At Christchurch, Jurel struck an unbeaten 99 in the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A, a knock that demonstrated his readiness to step in at the highest level if required.
Whether India turn to Jurel for the Basin Reserve Test on November 19 will hinge entirely on the outcome of Pant's fitness evaluation by the BCCI medical team. As of November 1, 2026, no official announcement regarding a squad change or a confirmed replacement has been made. The management is expected to wait until Pant completes his prescribed assessment sessions before settling on the playing eleven for Wellington.
