{
  "id": 17551634,
  "title": "Tilak Varma likely to play third India A match; Jasprit Bumrah leaves for New Zealand",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/tilak-varma-likely-to-play-third-india-a-match-jasprit-bumrah-leaves",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-01T06:40:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-vs-new-zealand/tilak-varma-likely-to-play-third-india-a-match-jasprit-bumrah-leaves-for-new-zealand/articleshow/135419929.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "AUCKLAND: Batsman Tilak Varma may join the India A team for the third unofficial Test against New Zealand A, providing red-ball exposure as per the selectors' plan. The schedule permits him to play one four-day match before joining the ODI squad for the subsequent two encounters in Tauranga. However, Tilak will miss the first three ODIs from November 2 to the fourth ODI on November 13. Southpaw Varma could soon be called upon to join India A in Christchurch, with the third unofficial Test commencing on November 7 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.\n\nMeanwhile, India's premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah departs for New Zealand on November 1 from Bengaluru. Bumrah checked into the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) on October 25 for a routine assessment before the forthcoming matches. He adhered to all necessary criteria before embarking on his journey. The source revealed that Bumrah did not travel to the CoE to augment his workload. Rather, it was a standard assessment, and he has successfully met all requirements before boarding the flight.\n\nAs planned, Bumrah was supposed to travel alongside wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the CoE. However, Pant's Return to Play (RTP) has been postponed. The Afghan-born cricketer remains uncertain for the third unofficial Test and will continue his recovery under the vigilant supervision of the BCCI medical team at the CoE.",
  "summary": "Tilak Varma may receive red-ball experience during the third India A match against New Zealand A prior to joining the ODI squad. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah is scheduled to depart for New Zealand following routine assessments at the BCCI CoE, though the return of Rishabh Pant is still uncertain, according to the Times of India.\n\nIn the T20I series against New Zealand, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was removed from the starting lineup for the fourth match at Eden Park in Auckland. Yahoo Sports reports that Sooryavanshi, who played a significant role in India's series win in the third match, sat out because Ishan Kishan returned to the lineup after recovering from an injury.\n\nIn his most recent appearance on October 27, 2026, Sooryavanshi scored 45 runs off 19 balls before being dismissed by Matthew Fisher. It remains unclear if the 15-year-old will open the innings in the fifth and final T20I in Hamilton on November 1.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ESPNcricinfo",
        "title": "New Zealand field in final T20I; Bhuvneshwar and Varun in for India",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/new-zealand-field-in-final-t20i-bhuvneshwar-and-varun-in-for-india",
        "published": "2026-11-01T06:54:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "New Zealand finally wins a toss and decides to bowl in the 5th T20 against India",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/new-zealand-finally-wins-a-toss-and-decides-to-bowl-in-the-5th-t20",
        "published": "2026-11-01T07:14:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "New Zealand finally wins a toss and decides to bowl in the 5th T20 against India",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/new-zealand-finally-wins-a-toss-and-decides-to-bowl-in-the-5th-t20-17554796",
        "published": "2026-11-01T07:19:21.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}