Rishabh Pant Faces Uncertainty Ahead of New Zealand ODI Series
Rishabh Pant's Participation in Vijay Hazare Trophy
Indian wicketkeeper-batter and Test captain Rishabh Pant is currently competing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, representing Delhi. His involvement in this tournament is in line with the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) directive, which requires contracted players to participate in at least two matches of India's List A domestic tournament to maintain their form ahead of the ODI series against New Zealand.
Pant's Performance and Future in ODIs
For Rishabh Pant, the Vijay Hazare Trophy serves a dual purpose; it is not only a chance to check his form but also comes at a critical time when his position in the ODI squad is uncertain. Reports suggest he may not be selected for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, commencing January 11. Pant's last ODI appearance was in August 2024, and he has not played since.
He was included in the squad for the England ODI series and the Champions Trophy in February, as well as the recent three ODIs against South Africa in December, but did not get a chance to play, with KL Rahul being favored as the primary wicketkeeper-batter.
Rishabh Pant's Performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy
The ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy marks Rishabh Pant's return to competitive cricket following India's Test series against South Africa in November. With uncertainty surrounding his ODI position, Pant aims to demonstrate his readiness for the New Zealand series. As captain of Delhi, he hoped to make a strong impression with his batting, but his performance in the three matches thus far has been underwhelming.
In the opening match against Andhra, Pant scored only 5 runs at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. He rebounded with a solid 70 off 79 balls against Gujarat, helping Delhi reach a total of 254/9. However, in the third match against Saurashtra, he managed just 22 runs off 26 balls in a high-scoring chase, reflecting ongoing struggles with consistency.
Statistics from the Vijay Hazare Trophy
So far, Pant has accumulated 97 runs across three matches, averaging 32.33 with a strike rate of 85.08, raising concerns about his form ahead of the New Zealand ODI series. With the squad announcement expected in early January, Pant has two more matches against Odisha and Services on December 31 and January 3, respectively, to solidify his case for selection.
Rishabh Pant's ODI Record
Pant's potential exclusion from the ODI squad for the New Zealand series may stem from his inconsistent form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and a lackluster ODI record. In 31 ODIs, he has scored 871 runs, including one century and five fifties, with an average of 33.50.
Since KL Rahul took over the wicketkeeping role after Pant's lengthy recovery from injuries sustained in a car accident in 2022, Pant has struggled to reclaim his position as India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batter. Rahul has established himself firmly in the ODI setup, leaving selectors with little choice but to support him for the upcoming series.
Competition from Ishan Kishan and Dhruv Jurel
Rishabh Pant's place in the ODI lineup is further jeopardized by the impressive performances of Ishan Kishan and Dhruv Jurel in domestic cricket. Kishan was recently selected for India's T20 World Cup squad due to his outstanding performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he led Jharkhand to victory and emerged as the tournament's top scorer with 517 runs, including two centuries.
Dhruv Jurel has also been in remarkable form during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, currently ranking as the second-leading run-scorer with 307 runs, including a century and two fifties, at an impressive average of 153.50. His standout performance includes a blistering 160-run innings against Baroda, making a strong case for his inclusion in the ODI squad.
Conclusion
Given the recent performances of Kishan and Jurel, Rishabh Pant faces a challenging situation as selectors evaluate recent form and consistency for backup wicketkeeper-batter options ahead of the ODI series against New Zealand.