Star cricketer Rishabh Pant is expected to be left out of India’s One-Day International team for the forthcoming three-match series against New Zealand, based on the most recent information. After being included in the lineup for the 2025 Champions Trophy and the most recent South Africa series, Pant is allegedly not going to be in the squad for the January 11 start of the series.
The ODI team will be formally announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on or before January 4. Opening batsman Shubman Gill is slated to lead the Men in Blue, but his Test deputy will not play after completing a significant 70-run knock for Delhi in the most recent Vijay Hazare Trophy encounter, where Virat Kohli also hit 77 against Gujarat in Bengaluru.
However, who will take Rishabh Pant’s place?
Ishan Kishan of Jharkhand, who can bat at several spots in the order, is being given another shot by the selection committee, which is headed by Ajit Agarkar, according to India Today. In the Vijay Hazare opening round match, he batted at No. 6 and led his team to a decisive victory with an incredible 125 off just 39 balls.
Kishan recently made news when he returned to the T20I team after winning the home Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with regularity. After playing last in the 2023 ODI World Cup, the stumper-batter is expected to make a comeback to the team due to his good ongoing form in 50-over cricket. 2026 might prove to be Kishan’s year as a new year approaches, beginning with the New Zealand series.
The schedule, dates, locations, and times for the IND vs. NZ ODI series in 2026
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
| January 11 | 1st ODI | BCA Stadium, Vadodara | 1:30 PM |
| January 14 | 2nd ODI | Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot | 1:30 PM |
| January 18 | 3rd ODI | Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore | 1:30 PM |
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