Rishabh Pant has been handed a crucial second chance to prove his fitness ahead of India's upcoming Test series in New Zealand after failing his initial assessment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Sunday (November 1), Cricinfo reported.

The wicketkeeper-batter has been sidelined since early October after sustaining a left-side strain while captaining the Rest of India during the Irani Cup match.

Pant has been undergoing rehabilitation at the Bengaluru-based facility since October 23. The report indicates that he has already resumed light skill drills, including batting and wicketkeeping sessions.

According to the report, the BCCI medical team is expected to conduct a fresh fitness assessment within the next two days. If Pant successfully clears this second fitness test, he will be cleared to board the flight to New Zealand.

Upon arriving in New Zealand, Rishabh Pant is slated to link up with the India A squad for their third four-day unofficial Test against New Zealand A in Lincoln, beginning November 7.

The southpaw is part of India’s 16-man squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand, but his participation is subject to a medical clearance. The first Test is scheduled to begin at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on November 19.

Earlier, Pant was ruled out of the first two four-day matches between India A and New Zealand A after failing to recover from the injury. Wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra was named his replacement.

Meanwhile, India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has departed for New Zealand on Sunday and is likley to feature in the third four-day match against New Zealand A.

After finishing his campaign at the Asian Games in early October, Bumrah trained in Ahmedabad before completing mandatory return-to-play protocols at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

The third four-day fixture against New Zealand A will serve as a crucial workload and match-practice opportunity for Bumrah ahead of India's senior red-ball assignment.

(With Cricinfo Inputs)