Rishabh Pant Ruled Out of Third India A Game; Bumrah, Jadeja Join Squad

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the third India A four-day fixture against New Zealand A. The match, scheduled from November 7 to 10 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, will proceed without Pant, who is recovering from a side strain at the National Cricket Academy's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. His absence means he has missed the entire three-match unofficial series.

Pant was initially named in the India A squad for the Lincoln game but was subsequently withdrawn after failing to receive a fitness clearance. His availability for the upcoming two-Test series, with the first Test commencing November 19 in Wellington and the second running from November 27 to December 1 in Christchurch, is contingent on a formal Return to Play assessment. Pant's last appearance for India was in August 2026 during a two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

To prepare for the Tests, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja have been included in the India A squad for the Lincoln fixture to gain red-ball match practice. Tilak Varma, India's T20I vice-captain, has joined the squad as Pant's replacement. Pant missing all three India A four-day games is significant, as it deprives him of competitive red-ball match practice ahead of the Wellington opener, should he be declared fit.

In related developments, New Zealand's Devon Conway sustained a concussion during a fielding drill on Tuesday, November 4, ruling him out of the remaining matches in the concurrent ODI series against India. Left-handed batter Nick Kelly, selected for ODIs four and five, has joined the squad in Wellington as Conway’s replacement. Matt Henry, involved in the fielding mishap, has been cleared of concussion. India, meanwhile, secured a 1-0 lead in the ODI series by winning the first match in Auckland on November 5 by five wickets. The first two India A four-day games against New Zealand A both ended in draws.

The upcoming two-Test series holds considerable importance for India's standing in the World Test Championship. India last achieved a Test series victory on New Zealand soil in the 2008-09 season, making the upcoming fixtures a crucial opportunity to advance their WTC campaign. Pant's fitness status and whether he travels to New Zealand or continues rehabilitation remain to be confirmed.

What to watch: Rishabh Pant's Return to Play assessment and his potential impact on the Test series.

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