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India have suffered a setback ahead of the ODI series against New Zealand, with Rishabh Pant being ruled out of all three matches due to injury. The series is scheduled to begin on Sunday, January 11, in Vadodara.
The wicketkeeper-batter sustained a fresh injury during India’s practice session on the eve of the opening ODI. Pant was struck above the waist while batting against throwdown specialists and was seen in visible discomfort soon after. He was immediately attended to by the team’s medical staff, with head coach Gautam Gambhir and other support personnel present at the nets.
Following medical assessments, the injury was deemed serious enough to rule Pant out of the series. The left-hander has since departed the Indian camp. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later confirmed that Dhruv Jurel has been named as Pant’s replacement.
In an official statement, the BCCI said Pant experienced discomfort in his right lateral abdominal area during the practice session at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium. Subsequent MRI scans revealed an oblique muscle tear, commonly referred to as a side strain, leading to his exclusion from the ODI series.
Jurel’s inclusion comes on the back of impressive domestic form. The young wicketkeeper-batter was Uttar Pradesh’s highest run-scorer in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, amassing 558 runs in seven matches, including two centuries, at an average of over 90.
Pant’s career has been interrupted by injuries in recent years. His prolonged absence began after a serious car accident in 2022, which kept him out of international cricket and the IPL for an extended period. More recently, he missed key matches after suffering a toe injury while playing against England last year.
Despite reports suggesting he might be left out, Pant was initially named in the ODI squad. His last appearance in the format came in August 2024 against Sri Lanka. In 31 ODIs, Pant has scored 871 runs at an average of 33.50 and a strike rate of 106.21, with one century to his name.
India’s Updated Squad for New Zealand ODIs
Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (Vice-captain), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel.
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