Table of Contents
- Pant’s Road to Recovery Nears Finish Line
- What the Upcoming Fitness Test Involves
- Why Pant’s Return Matters for Delhi and Indian Cricket
- From Car Crash to Cricket: A 22-Month Journey
- What Happens After the Assessment?
- Sources
Pant’s Road to Recovery Nears Finish Line
Rishabh Pant is on the cusp of a long-awaited return to competitive cricket. According to sources close to the BCCI, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter is in the final phase of his rehabilitation and is scheduled to undergo a comprehensive fitness assessment at the National Cricket Academy’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru later this week.
If cleared—and all signs point to a green light—the 27-year-old could feature in the second round of the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy, potentially donning the Delhi jersey as early as late October.
What the Upcoming Fitness Test Involves
The BCCI’s medical and high-performance team has designed a multi-stage evaluation tailored to Pant’s unique injury profile. The assessment will include:
- Joint mobility and stability tests for his right knee and ankle (both injured in the December 2022 car crash)
- Load-bearing drills simulating wicketkeeping crouches and explosive sprints between wickets
- Batting endurance trials under match-like conditions
- Neurocognitive screening to ensure full recovery from his facial lacerations and concussion
Pant has already completed several internal net sessions and fielding drills under the supervision of NCA head VVS Laxman and physiotherapist Rajinikanth Sivaraman.
Why Pant’s Return Matters for Delhi and Indian Cricket
Pant’s presence would be a massive boost for Delhi, currently rebuilding its domestic squad. But more importantly, his return marks a critical milestone for Team India’s future planning.
With the 2026 ICC World Test Championship final on the horizon and the 2027 ODI World Cup in sight, India needs its most dynamic middle-order batter back in rhythm. Pant’s fearless strokeplay and elite glovework behind the stumps remain unmatched in the current setup.
| Format | Pant’s Last Appearance | Runs | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test | Dec 2022 vs Bangladesh | 93 | 78.15 |
| ODI | Nov 2022 vs New Zealand | 38 | 105.55 |
| T20I | Nov 2022 vs England | 29 | 170.58 |
From Car Crash to Cricket: A 22-Month Journey
Pant’s accident on the Delhi-Dehradun highway in December 2022 left the cricketing world in shock. He suffered multiple injuries, including ligament tears, a fractured femur, and facial cuts requiring over 30 stitches.
His recovery has been nothing short of extraordinary—marked by grueling rehab, mental resilience, and unwavering support from teammates and fans. He made his first public appearance at the 2024 IPL final, and since then, has steadily ramped up training intensity.
What Happens After the Assessment?
If Pant passes the fitness test, he’s expected to join Delhi’s Ranji camp immediately. While he may not play the full match initially, a limited-overs style innings or a part-time wicketkeeping role in the second round is highly likely.
BCCI insiders say selectors are monitoring his progress closely. A strong domestic showing could fast-track his return to the national side—possibly for the upcoming home series against Australia in early 2026.
For now, all eyes are on Bengaluru—and that fitness report.