Rishabh Pant is absent from India’s starting XI for the first One Day International (ODI) against England. While Pant was part of the ODI squad against Sri Lanka in 2024, replacing KL Rahul in the final match, he only scored six runs. KL Rahul has returned to the starting lineup as wicketkeeper-batter for the match against England. There are no reports of injury concerning Pant, suggesting the decision to exclude him is likely strategic, based on team composition and desired playing combinations for this specific match.
India’s playing XI features Rohit Sharma as captain, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Shami. This lineup includes two debutants: opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and fast bowler Harshit Rana. Noticeably absent, besides Pant, is Virat Kohli, who is sidelined due to a sore right knee.
Pant’s last ODI appearance against England was in the decisive match of the 2022 series. He achieved his maiden ODI century, scoring 125 runs off 113 deliveries, contributing significantly to India’s 2-1 series victory.
England won the toss and chose to bat first in the current ODI being held at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. The subsequent matches are scheduled for February 9th in Cuttack and February 12th in Ahmedabad. This series serves as crucial preparation for both teams in anticipation of the Champions Trophy in 2025.
