Rishabh Pant Out of New Zealand ODI Series With Oblique Tear

India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand. He picked up a right-sided side strain, an oblique muscle tear, during a nets session in Vadodara just before the first match. This is a tough break for Pant, especially after he showed good form recently in domestic cricket.

Nets Session Ends in Injury

The injury happened on Saturday afternoon at the BCA Stadium practice facility. Pant was batting during a long session, facing deliveries from a throwdown specialist. A ball struck him just above the waist, on his right side or ribcage area. He felt immediate discomfort, quite visible, and left the nets. Team staff, including head coach Gautam Gambhir, attended to him right away.

The BCCI released a statement confirming the incident. They said Pant felt a “sudden onset discomfort in his right lateral abdominal area while batting in the nets”. He was taken for MRI scans. The BCCI Medical Team discussed the findings with an expert. That’s when the diagnosis came in: a side strain, specifically an oblique muscle tear. This means he’s ruled out of the entire New Zealand ODI series. The matches are scheduled for Vadodara, Rajkot, and Indore.

“He has been diagnosed with a right-sided strain with internal oblique muscle tear, and has thus been ruled out of the forthcoming ODI series against New Zealand,” a source told The Times of India.

Jurel Steps Up as Replacement

With Pant out, the Men’s Selection Committee moved quickly. They named Dhruv Jurel as his replacement. Jurel, a 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Uttar Pradesh, has already joined the squad in Vadodara. This call-up comes after Jurel’s strong run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He put up six fifty-plus scores in his last seven List A innings, even turning two into centuries.

KL Rahul remains India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs. Pant was set to be the second-choice. So, Jurel will now deputise for Rahul. It’s a big opportunity for the young player, especially since he’s yet to make his ODI debut. You can see the updated squad list on BCCI.tv.

Another Setback in Pant’s Injury-Hit Career

This side strain is another chapter in Rishabh Pant’s frustrating injury history. His career has seen repeated disruptions. Remember that serious car accident back in 2022? That kept him out of international cricket for a long time. Then in 2024, he fractured his right foot during a Test against England. He missed matches after that. He even missed a few Tests earlier in his career after getting hit on the toe. It’s been a tough run for him.

Pant was just getting back into rhythm. His last ODI for India was in Sri Lanka in August 2024. He also captained Delhi in the 2025/26 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He scored two half-centuries, helping Delhi reach the knockouts. The selectors had shown faith in him, keeping him in the ODI squad even when some reports suggested he might be dropped. This injury just puts a halt on that momentum. ESPN Cricinfo reported on his decent run of form before this. Pant has played 31 ODIs for India, with one century and five fifties.

What’s Next for Pant?

For now, Pant is out of action for the New Zealand series. He won’t play any of the three matches. The immediate plan is rest for several days. After that, he’s expected to report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. There, he’ll undergo further assessment and start his rehabilitation process. No official return date has been announced. The focus is on getting him fully fit, without rushing anything.