Rishabh Pant ruled out of India A's first two NZ games; Kushagra steps in
Synopsis
Rishabh Pant's injury woes continue — a left-side strain has ruled him out of India A's opening two red-ball matches in New Zealand, with 21-year-old Kumar Kushagra stepping in. With WTC final spots on the line and senior Test matches in Wellington and Christchurch looming, every India A performance on this tour doubles as a high-stakes audition.
Key Takeaways
Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of India A 's first two New Zealand matches with a left-side strain .
Kumar Kushagra , 21, has been named his replacement for the first two games by the Men's Selection Committee.
Pant, 29 , had already been battling a viral fever suffered during the Irani Cup in Srinagar .
A decision on Pant's availability for the third match — starting 7 October in Lincoln — will be taken at a later stage, per BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia .
Kushagra scored 113 and 46 for India A against Australia A in Puducherry, helping his side win the first game.
The India A shadow tour is a key warm-up ahead of senior Tests in Wellington and Christchurch , which affect WTC final qualification.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of India A's first two red-ball matches on the upcoming tour of New Zealand due to a left-side strain, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Monday, 12 October. Young Jharkhand keeper-batter Kumar Kushagra has been named as his replacement for those two games in the updated squad.
What Happened to Pant
Pant's availability for the New Zealand shadow tour had already been under a fitness cloud after he contracted a viral fever while leading the Rest of India in the Irani Cup clash against Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. The left-side strain is a fresh setback layered on top of that illness, prompting the selectors to bring in cover immediately.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the 29-year-old remains under the supervision of the BCCI medical team. '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,' Saikia said.
Kushagra's Credentials and Recent Form
The 21-year-old Kushagra arrives in good form, having impressed in India A's red-ball matches against Australia A in Puducherry. He scored 113 and 46 in the first game — performances that helped India A secure a victory — before contributing 10 and 1 in the second fixture. His century in particular announced him as a dependable option behind the stumps at the highest domestic level.
India A's Updated Squad
Dhruv Jurel will captain the side and also keep wickets, with Kushagra providing specialist cover for the opening two matches. The broader squad includes prominent names: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, B Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar, Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Choudhary, Yash Rathod, and Ravichandran Smaran.
Why This Shadow Series Matters
The India A red-ball tour of New Zealand carries weight beyond the scoreline. It serves as a critical preparatory platform ahead of the two-Test series between the senior sides in Wellington and Christchurch, which has direct implications for India's position in the World Test Championship (WTC) final qualification race. Several India A players are in line for senior call-ups should injuries or form gaps emerge, making every performance on this tour a de facto audition. Notably, Pant's fitness situation will be monitored closely, as he remains a first-choice option in the senior Test set-up and any prolonged absence would concern team management ahead of those high-stakes Tests.
Point of View
Which is precisely why Kushagra's development matters. Mainstream coverage tends to frame this as a squad reshuffle story; the more important read is whether the BCCI's medical protocols are calibrated to protect high-value players across the increasingly congested domestic-to-international pipeline.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Rishabh Pant been ruled out of India A's New Zealand tour matches?
Pant has been ruled out of India A's first two New Zealand red-ball matches due to a left-side strain. He had also recently battled a viral fever contracted during the Irani Cup in Srinagar, and remains under the supervision of the BCCI medical team.
Who is Kumar Kushagra and why was he selected as replacement?
Kumar Kushagra is a 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Jharkhand who was named Pant's replacement for India A's first two New Zealand matches. He was picked on the back of strong form in India A's red-ball series against Australia A in Puducherry, where he scored 113 and 46 in the opening game.
Will Rishabh Pant play in the third India A match in New Zealand?
A decision on Pant's availability for the third match, beginning 7 October in Lincoln, has not yet been made. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said a call will be taken at a later stage once the medical team assesses his recovery.
Why does the India A New Zealand tour matter?
The India A red-ball shadow series is a critical warm-up ahead of the senior India-New Zealand Test series in Wellington and Christchurch. Those Tests have direct implications for India's World Test Championship final qualification, making the A tour a significant preparatory and selection exercise.
Who is captaining India A in New Zealand?
Dhruv Jurel is captaining the India A side for the New Zealand tour and will also serve as the primary wicketkeeper. Kumar Kushagra has been added as specialist keeping cover for the first two matches only.
