In the latest development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to drop wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant from the Indian team for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand. With the absence of Pant, Ishan Kishan is expected to return to the ODI setup after a gap of more than two years.
Shubman Gill-led India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand has not been announced yet. The three-match competition will be India’s final 50-over tournament until IPL 2026 ends. India will take on the Black Caps from January 11 to 18, with matches to be held in Vadodara, Rajkot and Indore.
Rishabh Pant may not get a place in India’s ODI team for New Zealand series.
According to India Today report, Rishabh Pant may be dropped from India’s ODI team for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand. The team management is looking for a new direction in the 50-over format.
Pant has been a part of the ODI team as a backup since his return from injury in 2024. However, the selectors have decided to move on from him in this format.
If Rishabh Pant is left out, he will become a one-format player for India, as he is not even a part of the T20I setup and currently plays only in Test cricket. The left-handed batsman is the vice-captain of the national team in Test cricket.
Rishabh Pant’s ODI future is being reviewed before the New Zealand series.
Rishabh Pant played his last ODI match on 7 August 2024 against Sri Lanka in Colombo. He was recently part of the squad for the South Africa series but did not feature in a single match, serving as the backup wicketkeeper to KL Rahul.
In ODIs, Pant has scored 871 runs in 31 matches at an average of 33.50 and strike rate of 106.22, which includes five half-centuries and one century.
Pant is currently captaining Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he scored 5 and 70 in his first two matches. While his performances are being closely monitored, the New Zealand series is likely to see a change as India will prioritize form-based selection.
Ishan Kishan is ready for a possible ODI comeback after more than two years
The report says that Ishan Kishan may make a comeback in India’s ODI team after more than two years. Kishan played his last ODI match on 11 October 2023 against Afghanistan during the World Cup.
After leaving the South Africa tour for mental health leave later that year, he did not feature in any 50-over matches and also lost his central contract. Kishan led Jharkhand to its first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title and finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer in the 2025 edition.
He also continued his performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy by scoring a century in 33 balls against Karnataka on 24 December. This was the second fastest century scored by an Indian batsman in List A.
In ODIs, Kishan has scored 933 runs in 27 matches at an average of 42.40 and strike rate of 102.19, which also includes a double century. With these figures and his recent domestic performances, he has emerged as a strong candidate for a comeback into the ODI team.
Also read: Shreyas Iyer eyes comeback in New Zealand series, BCCI COE is monitoring fitness in Bengaluru
