Rishabh Pant to begin light skill training next week after Irani Cup side strain
Rishabh Pant, India’s wicketkeeper-batter, will begin light skill training next week as he continues rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence after suffering a side strain while representing Rest of India in the Irani Cup against Mumbai, Dainik Jagran reported on October 21, 2026.
India’s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final make player fitness a key concern ahead of a two-match Test series against New Zealand, with the first Test scheduled for November 19 in Wellington and the second for November 27 in Christchurch; Pant, 29, was advised to rest for around two weeks following the injury and was named in India’s squad for the New Zealand series subject to fitness clearance.
Pant’s side strain in the Irani Cup forced him to step away from competitive cricket and report to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, where he has been undertaking recovery and fitness work as part of his rehabilitation.
The Dainik Jagran report states Pant is making progress and is expected to begin light skill training next week; the planned resumption of light skill work is described in the report as an important step in his recovery but does not automatically mean he will be available for international matches.
His eventual participation in the New Zealand Tests will depend on how he progresses through the remaining stages of rehabilitation and whether he can regain the fitness required for Test cricket, and team management is unlikely to rush his return before he is fully fit.
A side strain can affect a batter’s movement and shot-making, so the recovery plan includes a gradual return to training to manage those risks and rebuild match readiness.
A clearer picture of Pant’s availability for the New Zealand Tests should emerge as he progresses through the next stages of rehabilitation; until then, his selection should be considered conditional rather than guaranteed, and this does not necessarily mean that he will play in the series.
