India's Tilak Varma is expected to feature in the third unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A before linking up with the senior squad for the last two ODIs of the tour. The selectors want to give him more exposure to red-ball cricket ahead of India's upcoming assignments. Since he has no competitive matches between November 2 and November 13, the four-day game offers him a chance to get some valuable match practice before switching back to white-ball cricket for the remaining games.

According to reports, the selectors are planning to add Tilak to the India A squad for the third unofficial Test against New Zealand A, which begins on November 7 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. He is not part of India's squad for the first three ODIs and has been picked only for the fourth and fifth matches in Tauranga on November 13 and 15. The idea is to give him useful red-ball practice before India's two-Test series against New Zealand, which starts on November 19.

The 23-year-old already has an impressive record, having scored 1,828 runs in 25 matches at an average of 57.12, including eight centuries and seven fifties. Tilak also represented South Zone in the Duleep Trophy, where he scored 266 runs in three innings, including a century and a knock of 99.

Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has completed his routine fitness assessment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and is set to join the Indian team in New Zealand. However, Rishabh Pant's comeback remains uncertain as his rehabilitation is still underway. He is yet to receive Return to Play clearance, leaving his availability for the third unofficial Test in doubt.

India will begin their two-match Test series against New Zealand on November 19 in Wellington.