Rishabh Pant hit during training on eve of first NZ ODI

Rishabh Pant walks off injured after the Indian training session ahead of the 1st ODI vs New Zealand. (Express Photo | Bhupendra Rana)

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was hit just above his waist from one of the deliveries bowled by a throwdown specialist late in his long batting session in Vadodara on Saturday. A PTI report said that 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.

The left-hander was involved in a lengthy batting session before he got injured, where he focused on his forward defence, while trying the occasional lap shot. 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.

Pant 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.

India captain Shubman Gill was seen having a long chat with the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar. Former India skipper Rohit Sharma offered batting tips to Mohammed Siraj. Rohit was waiting outside the net when Siraj, who was in early, could not connect while trying to hoick the ball. The India opener then gave some tips to the pacer, who only had a batting stint in the nets.

The three-ODI series against a new-look New Zealand team will get underway here, with the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium set to host its first men’s international match. The second ODI will be played at Rajkot’s Niranjan Shah Stadium on January 14, while the third and final will be at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on January 18.

After the ODIs, the focus will shift to the 5-match T20Is which will start January 21 and go on till January 31.