Rishabh Pant is virtually ruled out of the third unofficial Test between India 'A' and New Zealand 'A', scheduled to be played in Lincoln from November 7 to 10. The wicketkeeper-batter is due to undergo an assessment around November 9-10 and, if cleared, is expected to fly to New Zealand to join the Indian squad ahead of the Test series. Sources indicate that Pant is optimistic about being available for the series, which is part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

The first Test begins on November 19 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, with the second scheduled to be played in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1.

Pant, 29, has been out of international action since the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in late August. He subsequently led Rest of India in the Irani Cup but could not complete the engagement due to fitness issues. He has since been at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, recovering from a side strain.

He remains an important member of the Indian Test side, having scored three half-centuries in his last three Tests. He was also among India's leading performers on their last Test tour outside the subcontinent, in England last year, scoring 479 runs across four Tests.

Pant hopes to resume batting and wicketkeeping practice in the next day or two at the CoE. If he joins the Test squad as expected, he will do so without having played a warm-up game ahead of the series. Most of his teammates, meanwhile, would have had some game time before the two five-day red-ball matches.

He was initially named in the India 'A' squad for the three four-day matches, with the BCCI making his participation subject to fitness. A formal clearance has evidently not come through yet. Sources, however, indicate that there is optimism around his recovery, with the player hoping to travel to New Zealand around November 10-11. He will need clearance from the CoE medical team before making the trip.

Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah is expected to be available for the third India 'A' game and is expected to join the squad in time for the third four-day game in Lincoln, beginning November 7.