Dhruv Jurel has been added to India’s one-day international squad for the three-match series against New Zealand, which begins on January 11 in Vadodara, after Rishabh Pant was ruled out with an abdominal injury suffered during training.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed the change on the morning of the opening match, with Jurel joining the squad in Vadodara on the eve of the series opener. Pant’s withdrawal comes just days before the series, forcing a late rethink for India’s team management.
Pant sustained the injury while batting in the nets, where he experienced sudden discomfort in the right lateral abdominal region. He was immediately assessed by the medical team and underwent an MRI scan, followed by consultation with orthopaedic specialist Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala. The examinations revealed a right-sided strain along with an internal oblique muscle tear, ruling the 28-year-old out of the entire series.
Pant will now undergo a short period of rest before reporting to the Centre of Excellence for further assessment and rehabilitation. His absence removes a key option from India’s middle order, where he was expected to provide flexibility and depth against New Zealand.
Jurel’s call-up follows an impressive domestic season with Uttar Pradesh. The 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has been one of the standout performers in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 558 runs in seven matches, including two centuries. Despite that form, he was overlooked during India’s home ODI series against South Africa in December.
The injury to Pant has reopened the door for Jurel, who is widely regarded as one of the most promising wicketkeeper-batters in the domestic game. His immediate role, however, remains uncertain, with KL Rahul expected to be India’s first-choice wicketkeeper for the ODI series.
Pant’s latest setback is another interruption in an ODI career that has lacked continuity in recent years. His last appearance in the format came during India’s tour of Sri Lanka in August 2024. Although he was named in squads for the England series and the Champions Trophy earlier this year, he did not feature in a match on either occasion.
India’s updated ODI squad:
Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper).
