Rishabh Pant set to miss India A Test; Tilak Varma joins squad

Rishabh Pant is set to miss the third unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A in Lincoln, as the India wicketkeeper-batter continues to recover from a side strain. ANI reported this on 6 November, citing Cricinfo. Tilak Varma, the T20I vice-captain, has joined the India A squad in Lincoln as his replacement.

Pant’s absence casts doubt over his availability for the two-Test series against New Zealand, which begins on 19 November.

What it means for the Test series

India’s Test squad, announced on 16 October, lists Pant as a wicketkeeper subject to fitness clearance. Dhruv Jurel is also named as a wicketkeeper in that squad.

Jurel will continue to captain India A and is likely to take over the wicketkeeping duties in the Test series if Pant does not recover in time. The first Test is in Wellington from 19 to 23 November, and the second is in Christchurch from 27 November to 1 December.

The India A match

The third unofficial four-day Test in Lincoln is scheduled for 7 to 10 November in local dates, with the first ball at 3:00 AM IST on Sunday, 8 November. It is the last match of the India A tour of New Zealand, after the first two Tests, which began on 24 and 31 October, ended in draws.

Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, both Test specialists, are expected to play as part of their preparations for the Test series. Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna is also expected to feature as he looks to regain match fitness after three weeks of rehabilitation for a hamstring strain. He was cleared to play all formats but was kept out of the ODI squad so that he stays fit for the Tests.

Seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was in India’s ODI squad until Wednesday, is part of the India A side.

What’s next for India

India’s next fixture is the second ODI against New Zealand on Saturday, 7 November at 7:30 AM IST. The third and fourth ODIs follow on 10 and 13 November, also at 7:30 AM IST.