New Delhi, Oct. 13 -- India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was on Monday ruled out of India A's unofficial Test series against New Zealand A due to a left-side strain. Kumar Kushagra has been named as Pant's replacement in the India A squad for the first two Tests. Kushagra is coming on the back of some excellent performances.

He recently scored a century for East Zone in the final of the Duleep Trophy against South Zone, and followed it up with another century for India A in the first unofficial Test against Australia A in Puducherry.

Pant sustained the injury while captaining Rest of India in the Irani Cup match against Jammu & Kashmir in the first week of October.

"He remains under the care of the BCCI Medical Team and is recoveri...