Explosive wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant's place in India's ODI setup became a hot topic just days before the upcoming home series against New Zealand, but the final squad announcement made one thing very clear: that the selectors were never ready to shut the door on him.
Rishabh Pant Retained in India ODI Squad for New Zealand Series: Selectors Show FaithIn a surprising move, the BCCI selection committee has retained Rishabh Pant in India's 15-member ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand starting January 11 in Vadodara. Indian selectors' backing of the 28-year-old's match-winning potential stunned many, as there were rumors of the Indian wicketkeeper's omission from the ODI side.
The decision surprised many, especially with all the noise around possible changes. Pant's recent run in ODIs had given rise to questions. During the South Africa series, he was part of the squad as the second-choice wicketkeeper-batter but did not get a chance in any of the three matches.
