Rishabh Pant (Getty Images)
Released from the ODI squad, Nitish Reddy is also expected to get some game time with the red ball. In the clip, he is seen batting in the nets without any discomfort. Among the Test specialists, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are both set to feature in the match as part of their preparation for the Tests, while T20I vice-captain Tilak Varma has joined the India ‘A’ squad in Lincoln as a replacement for Pant. Prasidh Krishna, meanwhile, is also likely to feature in the ‘A’ fixture as he looks to regain match fitness after spending the past three weeks undergoing rehabilitation for a hamstring strain. Prasidh was cleared to play all formats but was not rushed back into the ODI squad in order to keep him fit for the Tests. He was replaced in the ODI squad by seamer Auqib Nabi, who was pulled out of the second India ‘A’ match.
On Thursday, Pant posted a video of himself training at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, where he underwent rehab for a side strain. On Thursday, reports emerged that Pant is set to miss the third India ‘A’ fixture against New Zealand ‘A’ in Lincoln, starting Saturday, as he continues to recover from the side strain.