Rishabh Pant has suffered another setback just as the Indian wicketkeeper-batter was preparing for the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand. After recently recovering from viral fever, Pant is now dealing with a back spasm, raising fresh concerns over his preparation for the important red-ball assignment. Pant had already missed Delhi’s opening game of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season after being diagnosed with viral fever during the Irani Cup 2026.

The BCCI medical team had advised him to take complete rest after he developed fever and flu-like symptoms. The latest back issue has added another hurdle to his return to competitive cricket. Pant was unable to feature on the final day of the Irani Cup 2026 against Jammu and Kashmir because of his illness. Delhi vice-captain Sarfaraz Khan took charge of the Rest of India side on the field, while Aryan Juyal took over the wicketkeeping duties.

Pant had been keen to get valuable red-ball practice before India’s New Zealand Tests. Following the Irani Cup, he reportedly requested an opportunity to represent India A on the tour so that he could spend more time at the crease and regain match fitness.

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However, his latest back spasm has put those plans under a cloud. According to a report from The Times of India, Pant has been experiencing back spasms since the Irani Cup match. The BCCI medical team is closely monitoring his condition before deciding when he can resume training.

Pant could require another week before returning to full training and is expected to report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. He could potentially be cleared within 10 to 15 days, giving him a chance to recover before India’s red-ball matches in New Zealand.

Just in: Pant has been suffering from back spasm from the Irani Cup match. He will be reporting to CoE and is likely to be cleared in 10-15 days.

— Arani Basu (@AraniBasuTOI) October 6, 2026

The BCCI has already included Rishabh Pant in India A’s squad for the upcoming New Zealand tour, although his selection remains subject to fitness. India A are scheduled to play three unofficial four-day matches against New Zealand A, providing valuable red-ball preparation alongside the senior team’s tour commitments.

Dhruv Jurel has been named captain of the 15-member India A squad, with Pant selected as the second wicketkeeper. The squad also features Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan, all of whom could benefit from extended red-ball practice ahead of the crucial World Test Championship series.

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Ravichandran Smaran, Yash Rathod, Washington Sundar and Manav Suthar are also part of the squad. The bowling attack includes Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary and Auqib Nabi.

For Pant, the immediate priority will be recovering fully from the back spasm. With the New Zealand Tests approaching, India will hope their premier wicketkeeper-batter can return to training soon and build enough match fitness before the series begins.