Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan kicked aside as India name Rishabh Pant’s replacement for NZ ODIs

Young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has been drafted into the Indian squad after Rishabh Pant was ruled out of the entire three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which is set to begin on Sunday, January 11, in Vadodara.

Pant picked up a side strain during an intense net session on Saturday when a sharp delivery from a throwdown specialist struck him on the ribs. It initially looked like a minor blow but soon turned serious, and after medical checks, the team management decided not to take any risk.

Rishabh Pant ruled out of India-New Zealand ODI series, Dhruv Jurel rewarded for red-hot form

Now, Pant was officially ruled out of the entire ODI series against New Zealand, with Jurel taking his place in the Indian side, as reported by the Times of India. Jurel joined the Indian team on Saturday night, just before the three-match ODI series opener against the Black Caps.

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Jurel’s stunning run in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 helped him earn an India recall. He has been in red-hot form for Uttar Pradesh in the ongoing Vijay Hazara Trophy 2025–26. The young batter is currently the highest run-scorer for his team, piling up 558 runs in just seven matches. His numbers have been nothing short of eye-catching, with an average of over 90.

To be continued…