VADODARA: In a big setback to him and Team India, India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was on Saturday ruled out of the ODI series against New Zealand, which begins here on Sunday. Pant sustained a side strain after being hit just above his waist, on the ribs, from one of the deliveries bowled by a throwdown specialist late in his long batting session here. The 28-year-old was attended by the support staff members, including head coach Gautam Gambhir, and left the BCA B ground after receiving treatment, grimacing in pain.

“He has been diagnosed with a right-sided strain with internal oblique muscle tear, and has thus been ruled out of the forthcoming ODI series against New Zealand,” a reliable source told TOI. While KL Rahul is the regular wicketkeeper in India’s ODI side, the selectors will soon announce a replacement for Pant.Pant last played an ODI for India against Sri Lanka in July 2024. He was part of the squad that won the Champions Trophy in 2025, but did not feature in a single match. The left-hander led Delhi in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy recently and made two half-centuries against Services and Railways, respectively. He made his comeback after recovering from a toe fracture he sustained in the fourth Test against England at Manchester, during the two-Test series against South Africa at home.