Rishabh Pant set to miss India’s first Test against New Zealand in Wellington, reports say

Rishabh Pant is unlikely to feature in India’s first Test against New Zealand in Wellington on November 19, 2026, after suffering a setback in his recovery from a side strain, reports said. He has been ruled out of the third and final unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A, which starts on November 7 in Lincoln.

Pant had already missed the first two unofficial Tests in New Zealand after picking up the injury during the Irani Cup and was expected to use the third match for red-ball preparation before the international series. India’s two-match Test series is scheduled to begin on November 19 in Wellington, with the second Test set to start on November 27.

The side strain occurred while Pant was playing for Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir in the Irani Cup, a setback that kept him out of the initial India A fixtures. His absence from the November 7 India A game has intensified doubts about his availability for the Test opener.

According to a PTI report, Pant has resumed skill training and is currently not experiencing any pain, but the BCCI has provided no timeline for his return to competitive cricket. A BCCI source said, “Although Pant has resumed skill training and is experiencing no pain, there is still no confirmed timeline for his return to competitive cricket.” The BCCI medical team is not looking to rush his comeback.

Reports state Pant will need to complete three to four practice sessions to allow assessments of his fitness, batting and wicketkeeping before a decision is made on his return. Those sessions are being treated as prerequisites for any selection decision ahead of the Wellington opener.

If Pant is unavailable for the first Test, Dhruv Jurel is likely to assume wicketkeeping duties; Jurel scored a century in the first innings of the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A and his recent form has strengthened his case. If Jurel is chosen as wicketkeeper, India could also include Nitish Kumar Reddy as an all-rounder.

Journalist Sandipan Banerjee of The Hindu has reported that Pant might miss the series opener. The two-match Test series opens in Wellington on November 19, with the second Test scheduled for November 27; Pant’s participation in the opener will be decided only after he completes the required practice sessions.