India suffered a blow ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand, as wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was ruled out of the three-match series due to a right-side strain. Pant’s absence leaves a void in the squad that India must fill. Following his standout performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Dhruv Jurel has joined the team as Pant’s replacement.
Injury during practice session
During an optional practice session at the BCA B Ground, Pant batted for nearly 50 minutes and looked in good rhythm. However, he felt pain after being hit above the waist by a delivery from a throwdown specialist. Pant immediately dropped to his knees in pain and was helped off the nets by the support staff.
“Scans and assessment by the team doctor showed that Rishabh received a blow to the right side of his ribcage, resulting in a side strain, ruling him out of this ODI series against New Zealand,” sources told IANS on Saturday.
Pant will now rest for several days before heading to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru for further assessment and rehabilitation. He came into the ODI series after leading Delhi in the 2025/26 Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) league stage in Bengaluru, scoring two half-centuries against Services and Railways to help his team reach the knockouts.
Second injury setback for Pant
This is the second time Pant has been sidelined by injuries. He previously fractured his right foot during the fourth Test against England in Manchester, before returning for the two-match Test series against South Africa at home in November 2025.
Pant has been part of India’s ODI squad for the last two years, but he last played in the 50-over format during the Sri Lanka tour in August 2024. Ahead of the New Zealand ODIs, there was speculation that he might be dropped, but the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee retained him in the squad.
With Pant now out, India will need a replacement. Dhruv Jurel has been named his substitute, thanks to his strong performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The ODI series will start at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, which will host its first men’s international game. The second ODI will be at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on January 14, and the final match will be at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on January 18.