According to the latest development, it can be said that star cricketer Rishabh Pant will be dropped from India’s One-Day International squad for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand. The series is set to begin on January 11, and Pant will reportedly not be featuring in the squad, after being in the set-up for the 2025 Champions Trophy and the recent South Africa series.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will be making the official announcement of the ODI squad on or before January 4. The Men in Blue are expected to be led by opening batter Shubman Gill, however his Test deputy will not be featuring despite making an impactful 70-run knock in the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy match for Delhi, where Virat Kohli also made 77 against Gujarat in Bengaluru.
But who will replace Rishabh Pant?
According to India Today, the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, wants to give another chance to Jharkhand’s Ishan Kishan, who has the ability to bat at multiple positions in the order. He batted at No. 6 in the Vijay Hazare opening round match, smashing a mind-boggling 125 off just 39 balls to lead his side to an emphatic victory.
Kishan recently made headlines for his comeback to the T20I squad on the back of consistency in the domestic Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy competition. With a strong continual of form in the 50-over cricket, the stumper-batter is in line to return to the squad after playing last in 2023 during the ODI World Cup. As a new year beckons, 2026 could well turn out to be the year for Kishan, starting with the New Zealand series.
IND vs NZ 2026 ODI series — Schedule, Dates, Venues, & Timings
| 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 |
India
