Rishabh Pant ruled out of first two India A matches against New Zealand A

Cricketer Rishabh Pant (ANI Photo)

Rishabh Pant's injury has forced a change to India's preparations for their upcoming red-ball tour of New Zealand, with wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra named as his replacement for the first two matches.

Pant, who was initially selected subject to fitness, has been ruled out after sustaining a left-side strain during the Irani Cup, leaving his availability for the third fixture uncertain.

Pant ruled out of first two matches after Irani Cup injury

Pant sustained the left-side strain while captaining Rest of India in the Irani Cup, prompting the selectors to make a change to the India A squad. The wicketkeeper-batter's participation in the New Zealand tour had been subject to fitness clearance. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Pant remains under the supervision of its medical team and is recovering well.

A decision on whether he can feature in the third match will be taken at a later stage.Kushagra will join an India A squad led by Dhruv Jurel for the three-match multi-day series against New Zealand A, which begins on October 24. The tour will provide India's players with valuable red-ball preparation in New Zealand conditions.

India A vs New Zealand A: Full schedule

India A will play three multi-day matches against New Zealand A across two venues, with the series starting in Lincoln before moving to Christchurch for the second game.

India A squad for New Zealand tour

• Captain: Dhruv Jurel
• Wicketkeepers: Dhruv Jurel, Kumar Kushagra (first and second matches)
• Batters: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Smaran, Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod
• All-rounders: Washington Sundar, Auqib Nabi, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar
• Bowlers: Akash Deep, Mukesh Choudhary, Mukesh Kumar

Kushagra's inclusion adds another wicketkeeping option to the squad for the opening two matches, while the selectors await further clarity on Pant's recovery.

Senior players add experience to India A setup

The squad features several players with senior international experience, including KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar. Their presence should strengthen the batting and bowling units as India A prepare for a challenging assignment overseas.Jurel's leadership will also be important as the side navigates three multi-day fixtures in New Zealand.