Rishabh Pant is expected to miss the third unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A, scheduled to commence in Lincoln on Saturday, as he recovers from a side strain, according to Cricinfo.
Pant’s absence from the India A match raises doubts regarding his participation in the forthcoming two-Test series against New Zealand, which begins on November 19. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
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Meanwhile, Test specialists Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are anticipated to feature in the third India A match as part of their preparations for the Test series. T20I vice-captain Tilak Varma has joined the India A squad in Lincoln as Pant’s replacement.
Dhruv Jurel will continue to captain the India A side, which also includes seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was part of India’s ODI squad until Wednesday. Jurel is likely to assume wicketkeeping duties if Pant does not recover in time for the Test series.
Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna is also expected to participate in the India A fixture as he aims to regain match fitness following a three-week rehabilitation period for a hamstring strain. Although cleared to play across formats, he was excluded from the ODI squad to help maintain his fitness for the Test matches.
According to Cricinfo, Mohammed Siraj has joined India’s ODI squad in Wellington ahead of Saturday’s match after missing the series opener in Auckland. Siraj was rested following his appearance in the drawn second unofficial Test against New Zealand A at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, where he took four wickets for 118 runs across 35 overs in his sole innings of bowling.
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