Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the first two unofficial Tests of the three-match series between India A and New Zealand A. He was named in the squad for the red-ball games, but his availability was subject to fitness.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Monday that the 29-year-old would not compete in the first two matches.

He suffered a left-side strain while captaining Rest of India against  Jammu and Kashmir in the Irani Cup. Pant is being monitored by the medical team of the Indian Cricket Board and is recovering well.

A decision on his participation in the third match will be taken afterwards.

“Rishabh Pant, whose availability for the India A tour of New Zealand 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 BCCI stated in a release.

Kumar Kushagra of Jharkhand has replaced the star player in the India A squad, and he will now travel to New Zealand.

“The Men’s Selection Committee has named Kumar Kushagra as Pant’s replacement for the first two matches,” the release added.

In 38 first-class matches, the 21-year-old  Kushagra has scored 2,507 runs. He was in the starting XI for both unofficial Tests for India A against Australia A in Puducherry and scored a hundred in the first innings of the series opener, helping his team win.

The young wicketkeeper-batter was in the East Zone starting XI in the Duleep Trophy final. He scored a century and 46 across two innings in the fixture.

Dhruv Jurel will lead India A in the three-match series against New Zealand A. The team includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and B Sai Sudharsan. Karnataka's Ravichandran Smaran will also take the field against the Kiwis. Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj and Mukesh Kumar are also part of the squad.

The first match will take place at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln from October 24 to 27, while Christchurch’s Hagley Oval will host the second game from October 31 to November 3.

India A updated squad for New Zealand A series

Dhruv Jurel (C & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Smaran, Washington Sundar, Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Choudhary, Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod, Mukesh Kumar, Kumar Kushagra (WK for 1st and 2nd matches).