Rishab Pant has been ruled out of India’s first two four-day matches against New Zealand A, and the timing adds pressure to his plans.
The injury comes after a tough few months for the wicketkeeper-batter, who has been fighting to win back a place in India’s white-ball set-up.
We look at what happened, why it matters and what comes next.
Key Takeaways
- Pant is out of the first two four-day games against New Zealand A, and Kumar Kushagra has replaced him in the India A squad.
- He was left out of India’s ODI squad for the West Indies series, then led Rest of India to the Irani Cup.
- Lucknow Super Giants finished last in IPL 2026, and Pant stepped down as captain in late May.
What happened with the New Zealand A injury?
Cricinfo reported on October 12 that Pant had been ruled out of the first two four-day games against New Zealand A.
The BCCI confirmed the same day that Kumar Kushagra would replace the injured batter in the India A squad.
The reports we checked did not say what the injury was or how long he will be out.
That detail matters, because a short layoff and a long one change his schedule very differently.
Pant turned 29 on October 4, so this setback comes at a delicate point in his career.
Why was he left out of the West Indies ODIs?
The BCCI named India’s squad for the West Indies home series on September 16, and Rishab Pant was not part of the ODI group.
Zee News called his omission notable, and the same week he was named captain of Rest of India for the Irani Cup.
Earlier in the IPL season, a Dainik Jagran report said selectors had considered dropping him from the ODI squad because of his poor form.
Our analysis suggests that his IPL form, rather than one bad game, was the main concern.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Suresh Raina praised his X-factor during talk of a white-ball comeback |
| Sep 16, 2026 | Left out of the West Indies ODI squad, named Rest of India captain |
| Early Oct 2026 | Led Rest of India to a come-from-behind Irani Cup win |
| Oct 6, 2026 | India and India A squads for the New Zealand tour announced |
| Oct 12, 2026 | Ruled out of first two NZ A games, Kushagra named replacement |
How did IPL 2026 go for Pant?
Lucknow Super Giants finished last in IPL 2026, the first team eliminated, with four wins from 14 matches.
The franchise had retained him as captain for ₹27 crore before the season.
Wikipedia’s season table lists him with 312 runs in 14 matches, including one half-century.
An earlier report had him on 189 runs after eight matches, at a strike rate of 126.84.
By our calculation, that points to roughly 123 runs in the final six games, a late recovery that could not save the season.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| LSG final position | 10th of 10 teams |
| LSG record | Four wins from 14 matches |
| Pant after 8 matches | 189 runs at a strike rate of 126.84 |
| Pant season total | 312 runs, one half-century |
| Wicketkeeping dismissals | 10, the top figure in LSG’s season summary |
What changed between 2025 and 2026?
LSG had finished seventh under Pant’s captaincy in 2025, so the fall to last place was steep.
The 2026 IPL featured ten teams and 74 matches between March 28 and May 31.
By May 19, LSG had won only four of their 13 matches.
The franchise retained nineteen players, so the slide cannot be blamed only on new faces.
Our analysis suggests the slide was a team problem as much as a personal one.
Three places lower on the table is a big drop for a side that kept most of its core.
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Why did LSG struggle around him?
Pant’s poor run of form stayed at the centre of LSG’s struggles after a promising start against Mumbai Indians faded, handing them their seventh loss of the season.
The squad included Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran, and the side was coached by Justin Langer.
When the captain’s own form dips, the pressure spreads through the whole side.
Is his white-ball career under threat?
Zee News asked in September whether this could be the end for Pant in white-ball cricket.
Back in early April, Saba Karim said Pant had not yet found a template for white-ball cricket.
Suresh Raina has taken a warmer line, pointing to the X-factor he still brings to the game.
The debate is far from settled.
Our analysis suggests the answer depends on whether his power turns into steady scores, because 2026 showed how quickly form can slip.
What do his Test numbers show?
Cricinfo wrote in June that Test cricket is the format where Rishab Pant is at his strongest.
Its stats coverage reported in August that he became the fastest to 100 sixes in Test cricket.
In the first Test against Sri Lanka, his quickfire 66 helped India set a 372-run target.
His most recent Test came against Sri Lanka on August 15, 2026.
That is a strong case for keeping him in the red-ball plans.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Most recent Test | Versus Sri Lanka, August 15, 2026 |
| First Test vs Sri Lanka | Quickfire 66, India set a 372-run target |
| Milestone | Fastest to 100 Test sixes, per Cricinfo stats |
| WTC sixes list | Included in a top-10 list alongside Ben Stokes |
| Captaincy talk | Mohammad Kaif says he deserves consideration |
R Ashwin called him the best Test batter in June, while Mohammad Kaif argued he deserves to be considered as Rohit Sharma’s successor as Test captain.
Headlines also said he broke a Test record set by Adam Gilchrist.
How has his captaincy record looked?
Pant has captained three different teams in roughly the past year, and the results have been mixed.
| Team | Period | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| India A (first-class) | Oct to Nov 2025 | Series drawn 1-1 against South Africa A |
| Lucknow Super Giants | IPL 2026 | Last place, four wins from 14 matches, stepped down in late May |
| Rest of India | Sep to Oct 2026 | Won the Irani Cup after a come-from-behind win |
Our analysis suggests his captaincy record is mixed, with a domestic trophy on one side and a difficult IPL season on the other.
Has injury been a recurring problem?
Earlier this year, BCCI announcements said he had been ruled out of an ODI series, with Dhruv Jurel named as his replacement.
A separate headline reported that he retired hurt after a painful blow to the wrist.
Now the New Zealand A injury adds another fitness question to his form questions.
Fitness and form together make his next few months harder to plan.
If you have followed Indian cricket this year, this news will feel like another chapter in a difficult run.
Who could cover for him?
Dhruv Jurel was the top run-scorer in India A’s first-class series against South Africa A last season, with 259 runs.
That form gives Jurel a strong case whenever Pant is unavailable.
Kumar Kushagra has come into the India A squad in Pant’s place, which gives selectors another name to test.
Depth behind the stumps is now a live talking point.
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What does this mean for India’s plans?
The 2027 ODI World Cup is the next big target for the white-ball squad, so every selection call now carries more weight.
Selectors already left Pant out of the West Indies ODIs this season, which shows they are willing to plan without him.
Our analysis suggests the squad picture will become clearer once the New Zealand ODIs begin.
For a player trying to force his way back, the next few matches will matter as much as any single innings.
Where could he play next?
Late-June reports said Rishab Pant was set to return to Delhi Capitals, with Kuldeep Yadav likely to join LSG ahead of IPL 2027.
AB de Villiers suggested the frustration behind the move may have come from the ownership side.
India’s first ODI against New Zealand is scheduled for November 4 in Auckland.
The reports we checked do not confirm whether Pant is in that ODI squad.
Whether he is named for those games will say a lot about where he stands.
What is his background?
Rishab Pant was born on October 4, 1997, in Haridwar, which is now part of Uttarakhand.
He comes from a Kumaoni family, and he has an elder sister, Sakshi.
Zee News also reported on a midnight request he made to Uttarakhand’s chief minister for land, and the state leader later responded.
His roots in Uttarakhand remain a big part of his public story.
What are the key numbers to remember?
- Fastest to 100 Test sixes, according to Cricinfo’s stats coverage from August, is a record-setting milestone in red-ball cricket.
- 312 runs in 14 IPL 2026 matches, per Wikipedia, compared with 189 runs after eight games in an earlier report.
- ₹27 crore is the figure LSG used to retain him, and Wikipedia notes he became the most expensive player in IPL history when he joined the franchise.
What should fans watch next?
First, watch for a clear injury update before India’s New Zealand ODIs.
Second, watch how the selectors handle his IPL form when they name the next squads.
Third, watch whether he returns to Delhi Capitals and how he settles in for IPL 2027.
Rishab Pant remains one of India’s most watched players, and every innings from here will be read closely.
For more player analysis and match updates, visit Cricket Team Match.
The next few weeks will show whether this setback is a bump or the start of a longer slide.
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