Vadodara: In a big blow for him and Team India, India wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was on Saturday ruled out of the ODI series against New Zealand starting here on Sunday. Pant suffered a side strain after being hit on his ribs, just above his waist, by one of the balls bowled by the throwdown specialist late during his long batting session here. The 28-year-old player was accompanied by members of the support staff including the head coach. Gautam GambhirAnd groaning in pain, BCA B left the field after receiving treatment.
“He has been diagnosed with a right side strain along with internal oblique muscle strain, and has thus been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand,” a reliable source told TOI. While KL Rahul is the regular wicketkeeper in India's ODI team, the selectors will soon announce Pant's replacement.Pant played his last ODI for India in July 2024 against Sri Lanka. He was part of the team that won the Champions Trophy in 2025, but did not feature in a single match. The left-handed batsman recently led Delhi in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy and scored two half-centuries against Services and Railways respectively. He returned from a fractured toe in the fourth Test against England in Manchester during the two-Test series against South Africa at home.
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