Rishabh Pant looks set to miss the upcoming third fixture for India A against New Zealand A in Lincoln, slated to commence this Saturday. Currently recuperating from a side strain at Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence, Pant’s availability for the forthcoming two-Test series against New Zealand remains uncertain. This crucial series is scheduled to kick off on 19th November at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
In positive news for the Test squad, key players Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are confirmed to play in the match as they gear up for the Test encounters. Tilak Varma, the T20I vice-captain, has taken Pant’s place in Lincoln. Bumrah has already spent two days training with the squad since his arrival, while Jadeja steps into the series fresh from an impressive Ranji Trophy stint for Saurashtra, having taken seven wickets and scored a century across two matches.
Dhruv Jurel continues as the captain of the India A team. Nitish Kumar Reddy, known for his seam-bowling capabilities, remains with the squad after recently being part of India’s ODI line-up. With Pant’s recovery timeline unclear, Jurel is likely to assume wicketkeeping duties for the Tests.
Prasidh Krishna, recovering from a hamstring strain, is also expected to make an appearance for India A. Although deemed fit for all formats, Prasidh was not rushed back into the ODI league to ensure his readiness for the Tests. Consequently, Auqib Nabi from Jammu & Kashmir replaced him in the ODI squad.
In ODI developments, Mohammed Siraj has arrived in Wellington, ahead of Saturday’s game, after being rested for the first match in Auckland. His last appearance saw him secure four wickets for 118 runs in a drawn second unofficial Test at Christchurch.
There’s been speculation about India’s captain Shubman Gill making a red-ball appearance; however, he remains with the ODI squad due to schedule clashes. Gill will depart following the third ODI in Hamilton to focus on Test preparations.
Notably, this marks India’s first Test journey to New Zealand since 2020, where they endured a 2-0 series loss. From that squad, only Gill, Bumrah, Pant, and Jadeja are selected for the current series. With their World Test Championship standings in mind, India finds itself in a must-win situation to keep hopes alive for the final in June 2027.
