Tilak Varma likely to play third India A match; Jasprit Bumrah leaves for New Zealand

AUCKLAND: India middle-order batter Tilak Varma is likely to be added to the India A squad for the third unofficial Test against New Zealand A. TimesofIndia.com has learnt that the selectors want to give him some red-ball exposure, and the schedule allows him to feature in one four-day fixture before joining the ODI squad for the final two matches in Tauranga. Tilak, who is not part of the squad for the first three ODIs, will have no competitive cricket between November 2 and the fourth ODI on November 13. The southpaw could soon be asked to join the India A squad in Christchurch. The third unofficial Test begins on November 7 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.

Bumrah leaves for New Zealand; doubts over Pant

Meanwhile, India's ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will board a flight to New Zealand from Bengaluru on November 1. He checked into the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) on October 25 for a routine assessment ahead of the third unofficial Test and the two-match Test series. "Bumrah didn't go to the CoE to increase his workload. It was just a routine assessment, and he has ticked all the necessary boxes before boarding the flight," a source tracking developments told TimesofIndia.com. It is further understood that, as per the original plans, Bumrah was supposed to travel with Rishabh Pant, who is undergoing rehabilitation at the CoE. However, Pant's Return to Play (RTP) has been delayed. The wicketkeeper-batter remains touch-and-go for the third unofficial Test and will continue his recovery under the watchful eyes of the BCCI medical team at the CoE.