IND vs NZ 2026: Rishabh Pant ruled out of series, BCCI names replacement

Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand, the Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed on Sunday. Pant felt discomfort around his right lateral abdominal area while batting during the net session on the eve of the opening ODI at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara.

Following this, the cricketer was taken for MRI scans and upon thorough discussion with doctors, the BCCI Medical Team came to a conclusion that he had been diagnosed with an Oblique Muscle Tear. This side strain subsequently ruled him out of the ODI series. The board confirmed the same via an official media release.

“Rishabh Pant was taken for MRI scans immediately and the BCCI Medical Team had a detailed discussion with an expert on his clinical and radiological findings. Pant has been diagnosed with a side strain (Oblique Muscle Tear) and is subsequently ruled out of the ODI Series,” the release read.

Selectors name Pant's replacement

Meanwhile, the Men's Senior Selection Committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, picked Dhruv Jurel to replace Pant for the entire series, making a like-for-like replacement for the departing 28-year-old. Jurel will now act as the backup wicketkeeping option in the original squad, where KL Rahul will be the preferred man with the gloves in the Shubman Gill-led side.

India's updated squad for NZ ODIs

Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK)

India vs New Zealand 2026 — ODI series schedule

The first of the three games between the 2025 Champions Trophy finalists will be played in Vadodara on January 11, and will also mark the international return of vice-captain and star middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer. The two sides will then travel to Rajkot for the second encounter at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. The third and final ODI will be played at the Holkar Stadium, Indore, following which, five T20Is will be played.