The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday confirmed Dhruv Jurel as the replacement for Rishabh Pant, who will miss the three-match ODI series against New Zealand due to injury.
During a practice session on Saturday afternoon, Rishabh Pant felt sudden discomfort in his right lateral abdominal region while batting at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Vadodara. Medical staff promptly intervened and arranged further examinations.
Subsequent MRI scans and expert consultations revealed that Pant had sustained a side strain, diagnosed as an oblique muscle tear. As a result, the injury ruled the wicketkeeper-batter out of the entire ODI series.
Following the medical update, the Men’s Selection Committee named Dhruv Jurel as Pant’s replacement. The BCCI confirmed that Jurel has already linked up with the Indian squad ahead of the series.
Impressive domestic performances have strengthened Jurel’s claim for selection. Currently leading Uttar Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26, he has emerged as the team’s top run-scorer with 558 runs in seven matches, averaging over 90, including two centuries and four half-centuries.
Pant Set for Rehabilitation
Meanwhile, Pant is expected to take a short break before he reports to the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for further assessment and rehabilitation under medical supervision.
Before the setback, Pant had led Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy league stage in Bengaluru, scoring half-centuries against Services and Railways to guide his side into the knockout rounds.
Notably, this is the second major injury Pant has faced in recent times, following a fractured right foot sustained during the fourth Test against England in Manchester. He had returned to action in the home Test series against South Africa last November.
India’s ODI series against New Zealand will commence at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, which will host its first-ever men’s international match.
India’s Updated ODI Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK).
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