Three candidates to replace Rishabh Pant if he misses India’s New Zealand Tests
On Monday Rishabh Pant was ruled out of the India A squad for the first two games of the three-match multi-day series against New Zealand A after sustaining a left-side strain during the Irani Cup. Kumar Kushagra has been named as Pant’s replacement for those initial two matches, while Pant remains under the supervision of a designated medical team and his availability for the third fixture is uncertain.
With Pant’s recovery timeline unclear, the BCCI is considering alternative options ahead of India’s tour of New Zealand, where the Shubman Gill-led side will play two Test matches against the Black Caps. Kushagra’s short-term call-up to India A fills the immediate gap in the multi-day series, but selectors may weigh other candidates for the full international tour depending on fitness reports and form.
Abishek Porel is one candidate mentioned if he maintains his recent run-scoring. Porel scored an unbeaten century for Bengal in the ongoing Ranji Trophy Group C match against Delhi and has been backed by the Delhi Capitals in the last few IPL seasons. The article notes that, despite these factors, the chance of him being selected remains slim.
Kumar Kushagra, who has already replaced Pant for India A’s first two games, could press his case by performing well in those matches. Kushagra has played 38 first-class matches, scoring 2,507 runs in 61 innings with a highest score of 266, and has taken 66 catches and effected 15 stumpings. He also featured in the India A vs. Australia A series, where he scored a century in the first innings of the first match but did not produce further notable run-scoring in that series.
Ishan Kishan is another option under consideration. Kishan has played only two Test matches for India, both in 2023 during the team’s tour of the West Indies, and the piece describes him as a 28-year-old who has solidified his place in the India team as a batter and wicketkeeper. The article adds that he has shown recent red-ball form, citing a double century in the Duleep Trophy 2026, and that he will likely be playing in the T20Is and the ODIs.
Pant will continue rehabilitation under the designated medical team while Kushagra occupies the wicketkeeping role for the first two India A multi-day fixtures; with Pant’s availability for the third match unresolved, the BCCI may name other replacements ahead of the New Zealand tour, where the Shubman Gill-led side is scheduled to play two Test matches against the Black Caps.