Pant, who has been out of action with a side strain, will play subject to a fitness clearance

Half-centuries from Sai Sudharsan (91), Rathod (66) and Washington (51*) also helped India A bounce back

New Zealand won't have Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson to call upon, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should get another go at No. 3 in Ishan Kishan's absence

"Make sure you get a very strong fan at home and you walk into the fan," Morne Morkel jokes when asked about India will counter the fierce Wellington wind