While Pant will not participate in the upcoming third India ‘A’ fixture against New Zealand ‘A’ in Lincoln, which begins this Saturday, his recovery progress has been positive. Sources have confirmed his availability for the first Test, which is scheduled to commence on November 19.
Squad Updates and Preparations for the Test Series
As the Test squad prepares for the series, other key players are utilizing the ‘A’ tour to gain valuable match practice. Both Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are slated to participate in the Lincoln fixture to sharpen their preparations. In a related roster adjustment, T20I vice-captain Tilak Varma has been added to the India ‘A’ squad as a replacement for Pant.
The bowling department is also seeing reinforcements, with Prasidh Krishna expected to play in the ‘A’ match. Krishna has spent the last three weeks recovering from a hamstring strain and is now cleared for all formats. Although he was not rushed back into the ODI squad to ensure his readiness for the Test series, his inclusion in the ‘A’ game marks a significant step in his return to full match fitness. Seamer Auqib Nabi, who had been called up as a replacement in the ODI squad, was previously withdrawn from the second ‘A’ match.
The ongoing ‘A’ series has seen competitive cricket, with the first two encounters ending in draws. Several players have made notable contributions, including Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, who have been among the top run-scorers. Additionally, Yashasvi Jaiswal recently regained his form with an unbeaten 155 at Hagley Oval. Nitish Reddy, having been released from the ODI squad, is also anticipated to gain red-ball experience during the tour. Meanwhile, the New Zealand ‘A’ side will be without the services of pacers Simon Keene and Fraser Sheat for the upcoming match.
