Rishabh Pant ruled out of IPL 2026? Official medical bulletin issued

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has spent the past few years dealing with repeated injury setbacks and is now fully focused on regaining fitness ahead of IPL 2026. Pant, who is the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain, is likely to be available for the tournament, which is scheduled to begin in late March.

The wicketkeeper-batter has slipped down India’s T20 pecking order. Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Jitesh Sharma, and Dhruv Jurel are currently ahead of him. Pant last played a T20I in July 2024. The selection committee picked Samson and Ishan as the two wicketkeeper-batters for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Rishabh Pant Recovers Fully After Injury Setback

Rishabh Pant suffered a right-sided internal oblique muscle tear during a practice session ahead of the ODI series against New Zealand last month. He picked up the injury at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Saturday, January 10, during an optional training session.

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Pant was batting well in the nets when a throwdown delivery struck him just above the waist on his right side. He went down in pain immediately, prompting the team physio, doctor, and head coach Gautam Gambhir to attend to him.

At the time, KL Rahul was India’s first-choice wicketkeeper in the ODI team, with Pant serving as the backup wicketkeeper and a middle-order batter. According to Jagran journalist Abhishek Tripathi, Pant has now fully recovered after missing the three-match ODI series against New Zealand.

🔥 Breaking 🔥

💥 पिछले महीने न्यूजीलैंड के विरुद्ध तीन मैचों की वनडे सीरीज में चोटिल हुए विकेटकीपर रिषभ पंत पूरी तरह से फिट हो गए हैं
💥 वह सभी प्रारूप के लिए उपलब्ध रहेंगे। यही नहीं लखनऊ सुपर जायंट्स के लिए भी ये राहत भरी खबर है क्योंकि वह 26 मार्च से शुरू हो रही इंडियन… pic.twitter.com/BXygRoJ7uR

— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) February 17, 2026

Rishabh Pant to Be Available for All Formats Ahead of IPL 2026

Rishabh Pant is now fully fit and available to play across all formats. His recovery is also a major boost for the Lucknow Super Giants, as he will be ready for the Indian Premier League, which begins on March 26.

The 28-year-old has dealt with several injury setbacks over the past few years. His career took a major hit after a serious car accident in December 2022, which kept him away from both international cricket and the IPL for a long time.

He has also faced more recent fitness issues. Pant suffered a finger injury during India’s tour of England last summer and later picked up a toe fracture during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 against England.

LSG's Disappointing IPL 2025 Season Under Rishabh Pant

The Lucknow Super Giants were not seen as strong playoff contenders in the Indian Premier League 2025 season. A poor auction left many expecting them to finish near the bottom. Although the team performed slightly better than predicted, the overall campaign still fell short of expectations.

Under the captaincy of Rishabh Pant, LSG endured a difficult season. They finished seventh in the league stage, managing six wins from 14 matches.

Former New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson is set to return to the IPL in a different role. The New Zealand batter has agreed to join LSG as a Strategic Advisor for the upcoming season.

Also read: Steve Smith insulted by selectors in T20 World Cup 2026, claims Australia batter