Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of India’s three-match ODI series against New Zealand due to a side strain, dealing a setback to the team ahead of the opening match. The wicketkeeper-batter sustained the injury during a practice session prior to the first ODI, scheduled to be played on Sunday.
Following medical assessment, the team management decided not to risk Pant, prioritising his recovery. As a replacement, Dhruv Jurel has been named in the squad and has already joined the team in Vadodara. Jurel’s inclusion provides India with a like-for-like option behind the stumps and adds depth to the batting lineup.
Pant’s absence is significant, given his experience and impact in limited-overs cricket. Known for his aggressive batting and sharp wicketkeeping, he has been a key figure in India’s white-ball plans. The team will now look to manage his rehabilitation carefully, especially with a packed international calendar ahead.
India will continue the ODI series against New Zealand with revised combinations, as the selectors and team management place faith in Jurel to step up at the international level. The series is seen as an important contest as India fine-tunes its squad for upcoming global tournaments.
