VADODARA: In a major setback for him and Team India, India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was on Saturday ruled out of the ODI series against New Zealand, which begins here on Sunday. Pant suffered a side strain after being hit on the ribs just above his waist by a throwdown specialist bowled towards the end of his long batting session here. The 28-year-old was looked after by the support staff, including the head coach Gautam Gambhirand left the BCA B premises after the treatment with a grimace of pain.
“He has been diagnosed with a right-sided strain with internal oblique muscle tear and hence has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand,” a reliable source told TOI. While KL Rahul is the regular wicketkeeper of the Indian ODI team, the selectors will soon announce a replacement for Pant.Pant last played an ODI for India against Sri Lanka in July 2024. He was part of the squad that won the Champions Trophy in 2025, but did not appear in a single game. The left-hander recently led Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, scoring two half-centuries against Services and Railways respectively. He made his comeback after recovering from a broken toe suffered in the fourth Test against England in Manchester and during the two-Test series against South Africa at home.
