India’s preparations for the ODI series against New Zealand suffered a setback when Rishabh Pant was ruled out with an abdominal injury on January 10. A video from India’s Vadodara training session surfaced on January 11, showing the moment Pant sustained the blow that ended his series before it began.
The injury occurred during a routine net session when Pant felt sudden discomfort in the right side of his abdomen while batting. He was immediately attended to by the team’s medical staff, and an MRI scan, followed by consultation with Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, confirmed a right-sided abdominal strain and internal oblique muscle tear. Pant will now miss the entire three-match ODI series, starting January 11 in Vadodara.
Pant’s absence is a major blow for India, given his ability as a left-handed wicketkeeper-batter to influence the game. He will undergo a period of rest before reporting to the Centre of Excellence for further assessment and rehabilitation.
In response, Dhruv Jurel was named as Pant’s replacement in the ODI squad on the morning of the first ODI, giving the 23-year-old an opportunity to stake his claim in India’s white-ball setup.
The injury adds to Pant’s recent ODI frustrations. The 28-year-old last played a 50-over match during India’s Sri Lanka tour in August 2024 and has struggled to find consistent playing opportunities. Despite being retained in the squad, injury struck at the worst possible moment, following India’s use of Ruturaj Gaikwad in the recent ODI series against South Africa.
