Tilak Varma likely to play third India A match; Jasprit Bumrah leaves for New Zealand
toi
newspoint|01-11-2026
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 PantMeanwhile, 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.
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 PantMeanwhile, 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.
Related News
Latest Newsmore
Shehbaz Sharif Trolled After Congratulating Pakistan on Hong Kong Sixes Win Over India
31-Oct-2026 • Sandy Verma
BCCI Women Marks 50 Years Of India's Test Cricket Journey, Reveals Historic First Playing XI
31-Oct-2026 • Prateek Thakur
Amol Muzumdar hints at specialist T20I squad for India women: 'Not long'
31-Oct-2026 • toi
Brandon King's 81 not out guides West Indies to 1-0 series lead against Bangladesh
31-Oct-2026 • toi
Vidarbha pacer Rajneesh Gurbani on his 10-year journey: ‘I feel as fresh as when I debuted’
31-Oct-2026 • Samira Vishwas