Bumrah, Pant added to India A squad for third unofficial Test against New Zealand A

India pacer Jasprit Bumrah is expected to feature in the third unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A in Lincoln from November 7 to 10, while wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has also been included subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI medical staff.

Both players are part of India's plans for the upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand. The opening Test will be played in Wellington from November 19 to 23, followed by the second in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1.

The India A fixture is expected to provide Bumrah and, fitness permitting, Pant with valuable red-ball match practice before they join the senior side for the Test series.

Bumrah undergoes return-to-play process

Bumrah is currently training at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru as part of the mandatory return-to-play process before joining the national team.

The pacer joined the CoE camp on Monday and is expected to travel to New Zealand on November 1. His appearance for India A would give him a four-day red-ball outing before the first Test in Wellington.

Bumrah last played for India at the Asian Games in Japan earlier this month, where the team won the gold medal. He was subsequently rested for the home white-ball series against the West Indies and the T20I and ODI legs of India's ongoing tour of New Zealand.

The third unofficial Test is scheduled at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, the same venue hosting the opening game of the three-match India A-New Zealand A series.

Pant awaits fitness clearance

Pant, meanwhile, is working his way back from a side strain sustained during the Irani Cup in the first week of October.

The wicketkeeper-batter suffered the injury while leading Rest of India to victory against Jammu and Kashmir. It subsequently ruled him out of Delhi's opening Ranji Trophy fixture and the first two unofficial Tests against New Zealand A.

Pant arrived at the Centre of Excellence on Friday and has begun light training, including batting drills. However, he is yet to resume wicketkeeping, meaning his participation in the third unofficial Test will depend on clearance from the BCCI medical staff.

The BCCI had initially named Pant in the India A squad for the New Zealand tour subject to fitness.

Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra was subsequently drafted in as Pant's replacement for the first two four-day matches.

Kushagra was also recently brought in as cover for Ishan Kishan during the ongoing T20I series after the latter suffered a right adductor strain.

Third Test offers match practice

The India A series comprises three four-day matches against New Zealand A. The first is being played in Lincoln from October 24 to 27, while the second will be held in Christchurch from October 31 to November 3. The teams return to Lincoln for the final match from November 7 to 10.

Several players with senior international experience, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar and Akash Deep, are part of the India A setup. Dhruv Jurel is leading the side.

For Bumrah, the final unofficial Test will offer an opportunity to build his red-ball workload after a spell away from Test cricket, while Pant will be looking to test his match fitness if cleared to play.

The four-day encounter concludes nine days before the opening Test in Wellington, giving both players time to transition into the senior squad's preparations.

India will be hoping that the fixture provides Bumrah with the required match rhythm and gives Pant an opportunity to complete his return to competitive cricket before the two-Test assignment.