Rishabh Pant ruled out of India A’s third unofficial Test against New Zealand A

Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of India A's third unofficial Test against New Zealand A, which starts on November 7 in Lincoln, as a precautionary measure. The wicketkeeper-batter has resumed skill training and is experiencing no pain, but there is no confirmed timeline for his return to competitive cricket.

Pant’s availability is now a concern for Indian team management with the senior side due to begin a two-Test series against New Zealand on November 19 in Wellington. He had been expected to play the India A fixtures to gain match time ahead of that series, but will now miss all three unofficial Tests on the tour.

"Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the third unofficial Test vs New Zealand A, as a precautionary measure. Although Pant has resumed skill training and is experiencing no pain, there is still no confirmed timeline for his return to competitive cricket," a BCCI source was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. The same source framed the decision as precautionary while monitoring his recovery.

Pant missed the first two India A fixtures after suffering a left-side strain during the Irani Cup. The injury occurred while he was captaining Rest of India; he felt discomfort on his left side attempting a sweep in the first innings but returned to bat at No. 8 in the second innings.

He also experienced flu symptoms and did not keep wickets during Jammu and Kashmir's chase, and has been recuperating under the supervision of the BCCI medical team. The management has opted against taking risks with his fitness while he continues rehabilitation.

The BCCI named 21-year-old Jharkhand wicketkeeper Kumar Kushagra as Pant's replacement for the India A matches. Pant’s exact return-to-play timetable will be reviewed after he completes three to four skill sessions, with progress in those sessions determining when he can resume competitive play.

Pant’s absence from the India A fixtures limits his opportunities for match practice before the senior Test series. Meanwhile Dhruv Jurel has reinforced his case by scoring a century for India A in the first innings of the ongoing second unofficial Test against New Zealand A in Christchurch, providing selectors and team management an alternate option if Pant is not fit in time.

India will begin the two-match Test series in Wellington on November 19, with the second Test to follow; Pant's importance to the red-ball side is well established, but the team management will not want to risk his fitness by rushing him back.