Rishabh Pant Injured, Dhruv Jurel Called Up for New Zealand ODIs
India have been forced into a late change ahead of the New Zealand ODI series, with Dhruv Jurel named as a replacement for Rishabh Pant.
Pant has been ruled out of the 3-match ODI series after suffering a side strain during India’s practice session in Vadodara on Saturday, January 10.
According to media sources, Pant felt sudden discomfort in his right lateral abdominal area while batting in the nets at the BCA Stadium. He was taken for MRI scans immediately. The medical team, in consultation with an expert, diagnosed him with an oblique muscle tear.
Pant was the second-choice wicketkeeper in the ODI squad behind KL Rahul. While his absence does not disrupt India’s balance for the series opener, the Men’s Selection Committee moved quickly and named Dhruv Jurel as his replacement on the day of the first ODI, January 11. Jurel has already linked up with the squad.
Dhruv Jurel’s Current Form
Dhruv Jurel, 24, has been in outstanding form in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. The right-handed wicketkeeper-batter smashed 123 off 96 balls to help Uttar Pradesh chase a 270-run target against Bengal earlier this week.
He had already made a major statement earlier in the tournament. Jurel scored his maiden List A century with an unbeaten 160 off 101 balls against Baroda in the 2025-26 season.
Jurel is currently Uttar Pradesh’s top scorer in the tournament. He has 558 runs in 7 matches at an average of 93. His tally includes 2 centuries and 4 half-centuries.
Across his List A career, Dhruv Jurel has scored 747 runs in 17 matches. He averages 74.70 and strikes at 113.35. Those numbers prove why selectors see him as a strong backup option.
Jurel’s Scored in VHT 2025-26: 80(61), 67(57), 160*(101), 17(16), 55(62), 56(61), 123(96)
Innings: 7
Runs: 558
Average: 93.0
Strike Rate: 122.9
100s/50s: 2/4
Jurel has already made his Test and T20I debuts for India. He will now be hoping to earn his first ODI cap.
Pant’s Recent Injuries
Pant’s latest injury adds to a difficult run over the last few years. His career was severely disrupted by a serious car accident in December 2022. The accidental injury ruled him out for over a year-long period from both international cricket and the IPL.
He later suffered a finger injury in England last summer. That was followed by a fracture to his right foot, which limited his involvement in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
India’s batting order looks already settled. Shreyas Iyer recently returned after proving his fitness in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and joined the squad on January 9. With Iyer likely to start and KL Rahul the first-choice wicketkeeper, opportunities for Dhruv Jurel may be limited.
India’s top order is already packed with regulars like Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Even so, Jurel’s inclusion keeps him firmly in the ODI mix.
Lastly, Ayush Badoni has joined the team in Rajkot after Washington Sundar got injured in the first ODI, but it is unlikely he will get his maiden international cap. India is expected to field Nitish Reddy for the second ODI, while the other members of the Playing XI are likely to remain the same.
India’s Updated ODI squad vs New Zealand
Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer (vice captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ayush Badoni