Pant ruled out of India A match, Test availability uncertain

Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of India A’s third unofficial Test against New Zealand A, which begins November 7, as he continues recovering from a side strain. His availability for India’s first Test against New Zealand, scheduled for November 19, remains uncertain because he has not received medical clearance to return to competitive cricket. Pant has resumed skill training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and was reported to be pain-free, with no clinical signs of the injury. Medical staff are assessing his batting, wicketkeeping and physical readiness before setting a return timeline. Reports differ in how many full practice sessions staff want him to complete, with one describing a couple and another specifying three to four. Neither account establishes a clearance date. A report published November 2 said Pant had fallen short of the fitness benchmark during an assessment at the Centre of Excellence on Sunday, November 2. The BCCI medical team planned a fresh assessment within two days. The outcome of that reassessment has not been reported, and Pant’s exclusion from the November 7 match means he will not have that fixture as an opportunity for match...