Rishabh Pant set for India A return in Lincoln; Bumrah also likely to play
Synopsis
Rishabh Pant is closing in on a competitive return just in time for the India A warm-up game in Lincoln, with Jasprit Bumrah reportedly set to feature alongside him — a major boost for India's two-Test series in New Zealand starting 19 November.
Key Takeaways
Rishabh Pant is likely to play in India A's third four-day game against New Zealand A at Lincoln from 7–10 November 2026 , subject to a fitness certificate.
Pant has been out since sustaining a left-side strain while playing for Rest of India in Srinagar ; he is rehabilitating at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru .
Jasprit Bumrah is also reportedly set to feature in the Lincoln fixture — his first red-ball outing since the Asian Games in Japan in early October.
Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna , recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in Guwahati , is also reportedly on track to play in New Zealand.
All three — Pant , Bumrah , and Prasidh — are in India's squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand, scheduled at Wellington ( 19–23 Nov ) and Christchurch ( 27 Nov – 1 Dec 2026 ).
Rishabh Pant is on course to make his red-ball return when India A face New Zealand A in their third four-day fixture at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln from 7 to 10 November 2026, according to reports. The wicketkeeper-batter has been sidelined since sustaining a left-side strain earlier this month and is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.
Pant's Road to Recovery
Pant suffered the side strain while captaining the Rest of India to victory over Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar, an injury that subsequently ruled him out of Delhi's Ranji Trophy commitments as well as the first two four-day games of the ongoing India A tour. Reports indicate he has begun light skill-based work at the CoE, a positive sign ahead of the Test series.
'He is on the road to recovery and is likely to be available for the third India A game, provided that he gets his fitness certificate. If everything goes as planned, then he may leave for New Zealand in the first few days of November,' a source said on Monday.
In Pant's absence, Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra was named as his replacement for the first two four-day games. Kushagra had already been serving as cover for Jharkhand captain Ishan Kishan, who was selected for the T20I series in New Zealand after sustaining a low-grade right adductor strain.
Bumrah Also in Line for Lincoln Fixture
Ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is also reportedly set to feature in the third India A game in Lincoln. Bumrah last appeared in competitive cricket at the Asian Games in Japan in early October, where India retained its gold medal. He was subsequently rested for the home white-ball series against the West Indies and both the T20I and ODI legs of the current New Zealand tour.
Notably, fast bowler Prasidh Krishna is also reportedly on track to play in New Zealand, having been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury during the ODI against the West Indies in Guwahati. He is part of the squad for the first three ODIs of the tour.
What Is at Stake — the Two-Test Series
Pant, Bumrah, and Prasidh Krishna are all named in India's squad for the upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand. The first Test is scheduled at Basin Reserve, Wellington, from 19 to 23 November, while the second will be held at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, from 27 November to 1 December 2026. Their participation in the India A warm-up fixture is crucial for match fitness ahead of those assignments.
With the Test series less than a month away, the fitness of this trio will be closely monitored by the Indian team management and selectors over the coming fortnight.
Point of View
Bumrah, and Prasidh Krishna for the Lincoln fixture is less a scheduling convenience and more a calculated risk-management exercise. India's Test fortunes in New Zealand depend disproportionately on these three — Pant's explosive lower-order hitting, Bumrah's wicket-taking ability, and Prasidh's seam options in helpful conditions. Rushing them through a four-day warm-up rather than prioritising full match fitness underlines the pressure India feels ahead of a bilateral series that carries significant World Test Championship implications. The fitness-certificate clause for Pant is the real caveat here: one setback in Lincoln, and the Test series opener in Wellington becomes a significantly weaker prospect.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Rishabh Pant expected to return from injury?
Rishabh Pant is likely to return for India A's third four-day game against New Zealand A in Lincoln, scheduled from 7 to 10 November 2026, subject to receiving a fitness clearance. He has been recovering from a left-side strain at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
What injury did Rishabh Pant sustain?
Pant suffered a left-side strain while captaining the Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar earlier in October 2026. The injury ruled him out of Delhi's Ranji Trophy matches and the first two India A four-day games in New Zealand.
Is Jasprit Bumrah playing in New Zealand?
Bumrah is reportedly set to feature in India A's third red-ball fixture in Lincoln from 7–10 November 2026, which would be his first competitive appearance since the Asian Games in Japan in early October. He is also part of India's Test squad for the two-match series against New Zealand.
Who replaced Pant in the first two India A games?
Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra replaced Pant in the first two four-day games. Kushagra had already been covering for Ishan Kishan, who was called up for the T20I series in New Zealand after sustaining a low-grade right adductor strain.
When does India's Test series against New Zealand begin?
India's two-Test series against New Zealand begins on 19 November 2026 at Basin Reserve, Wellington, and concludes with the second Test at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, from 27 November to 1 December 2026.
