The One-Day International (ODI) series between India and New Zealand is set to kick off from January 11. Several reports suggest that BCCI is contemplating including Ishan Kishan in the team instead of Rishabh Pant for this ODI series. Ishan has recently been included in the T20 team and is poised to make an impact in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Kishan is considered a strong contender for a spot due to his explosive performances in domestic cricket. As the captain of Jharkhand, Kishan led his team to its first victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), scoring 517 runs and finishing as the top scorer of the tournament. Additionally, he hit the most sixes. After Shubman Gill, a lack of middle-order runs and India's desire to reintegrate Rinku Singh has paved the way for Kishan's entry into the T20 setup.
Why Pant Should Not Be Excluded from the ODIs
Nevertheless, this argument does not entirely apply to ODI cricket. It's not about ignoring Ishan Kishan's century off 33 balls against Karnataka in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT), but this decision seems more of an impulsive move than a well-thought-out plan. The selection committee, led by Agarkar, courageously moved beyond Shubman Gill in T20s, but including Kishan in the ODIs appears to be a forced change.
It would be unjust to remove Pant, as he has not committed any significant errors. Recently, he led Delhi to consecutive victories and scored a quick 70 runs in his latest List-A innings. Although he debuted seven years ago, an ill-fated car accident has often stunted his ODI journey.
Only One ODI in Three Years
Looking at the statistics, Pant has played only one ODI in the past three years. Being a key member of the Test team, he seldom gets the opportunity to play domestic cricket. Hence, on what basis should he be excluded?
At the start of this year, during the India versus England ODI series, Pant remained on the bench throughout. He didn’t get any match time in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 either. A similar situation arose in the recent ODI series against South Africa where KL Rahul was the captain.
Rishabh Pant vs. Ishan Kishan – ODI Records
Rishabh Pant has played 31 ODIs in his career, amassing a total of 871 runs. This includes a century and five half-centuries, with an average over 33. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan has scored 933 runs in 27 matches, with a double century and seven fifties. Therefore, in terms of stats, Kishan holds an edge. However, Pant's role as a finisher should be considered, and he has not been given enough opportunities. Thus, excluding him from the ODI team might not be a wise decision.
It's not prudent to keep a player in the squad series after series without giving him a chance and then dropping him. The selection committee has already soured a few relationships by excluding Shubman Gill just before the Domestic World Cup. Doing the same with Pant could backfire, especially when he is India's Test vice-captain.
It's noteworthy that the India-New Zealand series commences on January 11, with the second match scheduled for January 14 and the final one on January 18.
