India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is anticipated to play for India A in the third four-day encounter against New Zealand A, which is slated for November 7-10 in Lincoln.
Rishabh Pant could play with him in that match, but his availability is dependent on a fitness clearance from the BCCI medical department.
According to Cricinfo, Pant and Bumrah have been named to India’s Test team for the two-match series against New Zealand, which will be played in Wellington from November 19 to 23 and in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1. The pair are now training at the BCCI’s Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. Pant arrived in the facility on Friday, and Bumrah checked in on Monday.
Why are Bumrah and Pant in the Center of Excellence?
Bumrah’s time at the Center of Excellence is tied to the BCCI’s obligatory return-to-play protocol, which all players must undergo before each series. Once those prerequisites are met, he will fly to New Zealand on November 1. His last competitive participation was at the Asian Games in Japan, when India won gold in early October.
The selectors had rested him for the home white-ball matches against the West Indies, as well as for the T20I and ODI legs of New Zealand’s current tour of India. Meanwhile, Bumrah has kept up his fitness in Ahmedabad, where he lives.
Pant’s situation is different. He suffered a side strain while captaining Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir in the Irani Cup during the first week of October. That injury prevented him from playing in Delhi’s first Ranji Trophy match, as well as the first two four-day matches against New Zealand A. Pant has began modest work at the Center of Excellence, including batting drills, but has yet to resume wicketkeeping responsibilities.
Who has stepped in for Pant against New Zealand A?
With Pant unavailable for the first two unofficial Tests against New Zealand A, the selectors resorted to Kumar Kushagra of Jharkhand to fill the wicketkeeper-batsman post. Kushagra’s responsibilities have grown swiftly, with him being named last week as a replacement for Ishan Kishan in the present T20I series after Kishan, Jharkhand’s skipper, had a right adductor strain.
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The back-to-back call-ups demonstrate the selection panel’s belief in Kushagra as a dependable reserve gloveman at this level.
Ishita Verma writes about player performances, cricket features, and major tournament developments. She brings readers concise updates and engaging stories from the game.
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