 "India's Rishabh Pant during a practice session ahead of the first ODI cricket match of a series between India and New Zealand, at Kotambi Stadium, in Vadodara, Gujarat, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. PTI")
Wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the ODI series between India and New Zealand after suffering an injury during training ahead of the opening match in Vadodara which takes place on Sunday, January 11.
Reports state Pant was hit above the waist while facing a delivery from a throwdown specialist during India’s optional practice session on the eve of the match. The left-hander fell on the ground due to the pain caused by the hit. According to Cricbuzz, the team physio and doctor checked Pant’s health and found that the injury was too serious for him to continue in the three-match series.
He thus has reportedly been ruled out with an official announcement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expected soon. He is expected to leave the squad on Sunday, the day of the series opener. The nature of injury and the timeline for his return will get known in due course.
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BCCI look for replacement
“Scans and assessment by the team doctor showed that Rishabh copped a blow on the ribcage on the right side and a side strain has been detected, thus ruling him out of this ODI series against New Zealand,” news agency IANS quoted a source in the BCCI as saying on Saturday.
The untimely injury to Pant will force BCCI to look for a replacement of Pant who is in the ODI set-up as a back-up wicket-keeper. With KL Rahul taking the gloves, Pant’s role has been reduced to bench and he has not been able to break into the ODI playing XI since August 2024 when he last played for India in the 50-over format against Sri Lanka.
Ahead of the series, there were rumours that Pant could be dropped from the ODI side but BCCI stuck with the left-hander. Ishan Kishan was said to be the frontrunner to replace him in the 50-over set-up thanks to the Jharkhand wicket-keeper batter’s form in domestic cricket which had already helped him earn a spot in the T20 World Cup squad.