Rishabh Pant's Commitment To Domestic Cricket Helped Him Retain Place In India's ODI Squad: Report

Ahead of India’s squad announcement for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, multiple reports in Indian media suggested that the BCCI selectors are set to drop wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant

from the 50-over squad for the home series starting January 11 in Vadodara. But on Saturday (January 3), contrary to the reports, the 28-year-old Roorkee-born cricketer, who represents Delhi in domestic cricket, was included in India’s 15-member squad.

Pant was India’s second-choice wicketkeeper-batter in the ODI series against South Africa, but he didn’t get a chance to play any of the three matches. In fact, in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as well, he warmed the bench in all five matches for the Rohit Sharma-led side.

As per reports, as Pant’s replacement, Ishan Kishan was expected to earn an ODI call-up after more than two years, but it didn’t happen.

Now, a day after India’s squad was announced for the ODI series against New Zealand, Cricbuzz has reported that Pant’s place was never under threat because he didn’t get a chance to play any match against the Proteas.

A BCCI source told Cricbuzz that Pant’s position was not in jeopardy. “The contention is that there was no case for his replacement, as he has not had a chance to play an ODI, leave aside failing in one.”

It has also been reported that Pant’s commitment to domestic cricket also helped him earn brownie points.

Unlike the majority of India internationals, Pant has played all five matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 for Delhi.

“Pant appears to have won brownie points from the selectors for his commitment to domestic cricket,” the Cricbuzz report read.

The BCCI made it mandatory for all the players to play at least two group matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and that’s why the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli also featured in the premier domestic one-day tournament. But like the majority of other India stars, they have played only two matches so far. However, Pant has featured in all five Elite Group D matches for Delhi and has slammed a couple of half-centuries as well.

Under his leadership, Delhi have won four out of five matches, and with 16 points and a net run rate of +0.803, they are at the No. 1 position in the Group D points table.