Rishabh Pant injury update: Kumar Kushagra replaces him for India A vs New Zealand A

Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the first two matches of India A’s tour of New Zealand after suffering a left-side strain during the Irani Cup in September. Pant sustained the injury while leading the Rest of India team in the tournament.

The BCCI has named wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra as Pant’s replacement for the opening two matches. Pant was initially selected for the tour subject to his fitness, but he will miss the first two games as he continues his recovery.

The BCCI confirmed the change in a media advisory on Monday. Pant remains under the care of the BCCI Medical Team, and a decision on his availability for the third match will be taken at a later stage.

Why Rishabh Pant is out: Latest fitness update and recovery timeline

Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the first two matches of the India A tour of New Zealand after suffering a left-side strain while leading the Rest of India team in the Irani Cup. Although his selection was subject to fitness, he will miss the opening matches as he continues his recovery under the supervision of the BCCI Medical Team.

The BCCI confirmed that Pant is recovering well, but a decision on his availability for the third and final unofficial Test, scheduled for November 7, will be taken later. Earlier, the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) confirmed that Pant had made himself unavailable for Delhi's Ranji Trophy opener from October 11.

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Pant's fitness has also raised questions about his availability for India's upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand, which is scheduled to begin on November 19 and end on December 1. However, the BCCI has not announced the squad yet, and there is no official confirmation that Pant will miss the series.

Who is Kumar Kushagra? The wicketkeeper-batter stepping in for India A

Kumar Kushagra is a 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Jharkhand who has impressed in domestic cricket. He recently scored a century in the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone in Chennai, helping East Zone achieve a historic victory. He also plays for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Kushagra has already represented India A in red-ball cricket. He played all three matches in the recent series against Australia A in Puducherry, scoring a century in the first match. He also scored another century and remained unbeaten on 46 in a four-day match against Australia A in September, strengthening his position as a promising wicketkeeper-batter.

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Kushagra will join the India A squad, led by Dhruv Jurel, for the New Zealand tour on October 16. The first match will begin on October 24 in Lincoln, followed by the second match at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The tour will conclude with the third match in Lincoln on November 7. Kushagra will provide a replacement option behind the stumps following Pant's injury.

What Pant’s injury means for India’s wicketkeeping plans

Rishabh Pant’s injury is a setback for India A ahead of their three-match multi-day series against New Zealand A, scheduled from October 24 to November 10. The matches in Lincoln and Christchurch will give players valuable red-ball practice in New Zealand conditions ahead of the senior team’s Test series. Pant remains under the care of the BCCI Medical Team and is recovering well, with a decision on his availability for the third match to be taken later.

The Men’s Selection Committee has named wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra as Pant’s replacement for the first two matches. The India A squad also includes experienced players such as KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, along with several young talents. Kushagra’s inclusion gives the team another wicketkeeping option while Pant continues his recovery.

Dhruv Jurel will lead India A and take responsibility as the first-choice wicketkeeper for the series. With Kushagra also available behind the stumps for the opening two matches, the team has additional cover in the wicketkeeping department. India A will begin their campaign in Lincoln from October 24 to 27, play the second match in Christchurch from October 31 to November 3, and finish the tour in Lincoln from November 7 to 10.

India A's updated squad for first two unofficial Tests vs New Zealand A

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, R Smaran, Dhruv Jurel (capt, wk), Washington Sundar, Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Choudhary, Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod, Mukesh Kumar, Kumar Kushagra (wk)