IND vs NZ: Why is Rishabh Pant ruled out of ODI Series? What Happened to Him?

Team India suffered a major setback on the eve of their three-match ODI series against New Zealand, with star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant ruled out of the entire series due to an injury.

The 28-year-old sustained the injury during a high-intensity net session at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium. While facing throwdown specialist deliveries late in his batting practice, Pant was struck by a ball just above the waist on the ribs. He immediately felt sharp discomfort in his right lateral abdominal region.

Medical scans later confirmed a right-sided strain with a tear in the internal oblique muscle - an injury commonly seen in cricket due to sudden twisting or explosive movements. The BCCI medical team has assessed a minimum recovery period

of 10 days, ruling Pant out of the first ODI in Vadodara (January 11), as well as the subsequent matches in Raipur (January 14) and Indore (January 17).

Pant was part of the 15-man squad as the designated reserve wicketkeeper behind KL Rahul. His aggressive middle-order batting style was expected to provide crucial firepower, especially with senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill returning to the ODI setup after a break following the recent Test series.

This latest injury adds to Pant's challenging injury history. He famously survived a life-threatening car accident in December 2022 that sidelined him for more than a year, requiring multiple surgeries and an extensive rehabilitation program at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

Since making his comeback in 2024, Pant has been a consistent performer across formats, scoring over 1,500 ODI runs at an average above 42, including five centuries. However, minor fitness niggles have occasionally interrupted his rhythm in recent tours.