<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/irani-cup-rishabh-pant-to-lead-rest-of-india-team-against-jammu-and-kashmir-23650472" rel="nofollow">Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant</a> has been ruled out of the first two matches of India A tour of New Zealand. He sustained a left-side strain while captaining the Rest of India in the Irani Cup.
Currently, he is recovering from the injury under the supervision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Medical Team. His availability for the third match will be decided, considering his fitness levels.
The board has named Kumar Kushagra as his replacement for the first two matches.
"Rishabh Pant, whose availability for the India A tour of <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ind-vs-nz-former-new-zealand-pacer-trent-boult-heaps-praise-on-team-india-batsman-kl-rahul-ahead-of-the-series-23649541" rel="nofollow">New Zealand</a> was subject to fitness, has been ruled out of the first two matches. The wicketkeeper-batter had sustained a left-side strain while leading Rest of India in the Irani Cup. He remains under the care of the BCCI Medical Team and is recovering well. A decision on his availability for the third match will be taken at a later stage. The Men's Selection Committee has named Kumar Kushagra as Pant's replacement for the first two matches," BCCI said in a statement.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
? News ? Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the first two India A matches against New Zealand A. Kumar Kushagra has been named as his replacement in the squad. More Details ▶️ https://t.co/GlNfm5b5or #NZAvINDA
&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://x.com/BCCI/status/2109647717106671982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2026</a></blockquote>

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Experienced players such as <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ind-vs-wi-3rd-odi-kl-rahuls-129-rohit-sharmas-92-help-india-post-351-7-23653188" rel="nofollow">KL Rahul</a>, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, and Washington Sundar will also participate in India A series against New Zealand. Their inclusion will also boost India A's batting depth as the side gears up for the challenging overseas series.
India A will clash against New Zealand in the three-match unofficial Test series, which will begin from October 24. The games will be played in Lincoln and Christchurch.
Currently, Team India under the leadership of <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ind-vs-wi-3rd-t20i-skipper-shreyas-iyer-heaps-praise-on-team-india-bowlers-after-win-in-indore-23654591" rel="nofollow">Shreyas Iyer</a> is busy featuring in the five-match T20I series against the West Indies.
<h2>India A updated squad</h2>
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Smaran, Dhruv Jurel [C] [WK], Washington Sundar, Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Choudhary, Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod, Mukesh Kumar, Kumar Kushagra [WK] (1st and 2nd matches).
(With ANI Inputs)

Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is recovering from the injury under the supervision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Medical Team

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Rishabh Pant is recovering from the injury under the supervision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Medical Team. His availability for the third match will be decided, considering his fitness levels

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Home / Sports / Cricket / Article / Rishabh Pant set to miss first two India A matches against New Zealand