With the Ajit Agarkar-led national senior selection committee set to meet online on Saturday to finalize India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, the debate over whether Rishabh Pant can retain his place in the squad will be under significant focus.
Key Players Retained
A majority of players who featured in the 2-1 ODI series win over South Africa, including veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, are expected to make the squad for the matches against a New Zealand team that features a blend of youngsters and seasoned campaigners.
The series kicks off in Vadodara on January 11, followed by games in Rajkot and Indore on January 14 and 18, respectively. However, the discussion surrounding Pant’s inclusion is likely to be a hot topic during the selection meeting.
Pant’s Recent Performance
Pant’s form in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy has been inconsistent, with only one half-century in four matches, totaling 121 runs at an average of 30.25. He hasn’t played an ODI since facing Sri Lanka in August 2024, having missed a significant amount of time recovering from injuries sustained in a life-threatening car accident in December 2022.
His recent domestic performances have not strengthened his case, especially with KL Rahul excelling as a first-choice keeper-batter, leaving Pant warming the bench. In 2025, Pant did not feature in a single ODI and was an unused squad member during the victorious Champions Trophy and the series win over South Africa.
Emerging Competition
The situation becomes more challenging for Pant with the resurgence of Ishan Kishan, who has been named in the T20 World Cup squad following impressive form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, along with Dhruv Jurel, who has also made significant runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Having already been omitted from India’s T20I side and with his ODI prospects looking grim, Pant will have few opportunities, focusing mainly on the IPL and a few Tests later this year to maintain his relevance in India’s white-ball strategy.
Discussion Highlights
Another name likely to come up in the selection discussions is in-form left-handed batter Devdutt Padikkal, who has scored three centuries in four matches in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. However, with captain Shubman Gill returning alongside Rohit, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, it will be intriguing to see how the selectors accommodate Padikkal into the squad.
Bowling Choices
With Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya expected to be rested for the ODIs in light of the T20 World Cup, it will be interesting to observe if Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh feature in the series. Should the young players be rested to keep them fresh for the T20 tournament, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami could be in line for a comeback, though his selection remains uncertain. The spin department seems well settled with Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav.