Kumar Kushagra steps in for Pant, aims to impress in India A's New Zealand prep

Kumar Kushagra, the 21‑year‑old wicket‑keeper from Jharkhand, has been drafted into the India A squad for its New Zealand tour, replacing the sidelined Rishabh Pant. The decision follows Pant's diagnosis of a left‑side strain that forced him out of the first two warm‑up matches.

Kushagra arrived in the squad after a standout performance against Australia A, where he scored 113 and 46 in the same game, helping India A secure a victory. His aggressive batting style and reliable glovework made him a logical choice to fill the vacancy left by Pant.

The Shadow A series, scheduled in Wellington and Christchurch, offers both teams crucial preparation ahead of the official Test series. With the World Test Championship standings at stake, each side is eager to extract maximum benefit from these matches.

India A's current roster features Dhruv Jurel as captain‑keeper, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar, Akib Nabi, Akash Deep, Anshul Kambol, Manvar Suthar, Mukesh Chauhan, Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod and Mukesh Kumar, with Kumar Kushagra taking the gloves for the initial two fixtures.