Pant Ruled Out of India A Finale and in Doubt for Wellington Test

Rishabh Pant will miss India A's third and final unofficial Test against New Zealand A, and his availability for the first full Test of the New Zealand tour is now in serious doubt. Reports published on November 1 say the wicketkeeper-batter has not recovered sufficiently from the left-side strain he suffered while captaining Rest of India in the Irani Cup at Srinagar in early October, and the BCCI medical team has not cleared him for competitive cricket. Pant has already sat out both earlier four-day matches in the series because of the same problem, and his absence from the Lincoln match, scheduled for November 7 to 10, means he will have played no part in any of the three unofficial fixtures. Earlier reports around October 26 that suggested he was on course for the third match have been reversed by updated assessments. There is some encouragement: Pant has returned to skill training at the Centre of Excellence and is reported to be free of pain. Before any clearance, though, sources indicate he must complete three skill sessions and four match-simulation sessions, followed by a formal fitness evaluation. He was named in India's 16-man Test squad, but his place for the Wellington Test beginning November 19 depends on that clearance. In his absence, Dhruv Jurel has led India A and struck a century in the second unofficial Test at Christchurch, and he now looks the ready-made stand-in.