In Brief
- Pant picked up a left-side strain while leading the Rest of India squad during the Irani Cup fixture against Jammu & Kashmir.
- Wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra has been brought into the India A squad for the first two matches of the multi-day series.
- Pant remains under the care of the BCCI medical team, with a decision regarding his potential availability for the third match to be determined at a later date.
India A's preparations for their red-ball tour of New Zealand suffered a setback on Monday as premier wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was officially ruled out of the first two matches. Pant sustained a left-side strain while captaining the Rest of India team in the Irani Cup encounter earlier in the month.
While Pant was initially named to the touring party subject to fitness evaluations, medical assessments confirmed he requires an initial recovery period. Consequently, the Men's Selection Committee named promising young wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra as his replacement for the opening two fixtures. Dhruv Jurel has taken over leadership responsibilities for the side in the interim.
The BCCI confirmed that Pant is currently under the direct supervision of the board's medical team. A definitive call on whether he will join the squad later for the third and final match will depend on his rehabilitation progress and subsequent fitness clearances.
