Rishabh Pant, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter, will not be part of the playing XI for the first ODI against England today, February 6. This ODI series serves as preparation for both teams ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 later this month.
Pant was part of India’s ODI squad the last time they played the format against Sri Lanka in 2024. He replaced KL Rahul in the series finale, marking his first ODI appearance since 2022. Batting at number four, Pant managed only six runs from nine balls as India suffered a 110-run loss.
For today’s match against England, Pant has been left out of the XI, with KL Rahul returning as the starting wicketkeeper-batter. There have been no reports of Pant having fitness issues, and the decision may have been made based on the team’s preferred combination.
India’s Playing XI for the first ODI against England: Rohit Sharma (c), Shreyas Iyer, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana.
How Did Rishabh Pant Perform in His Last ODI Against England?
Rishabh Pant’s last appearance against England was during the 2022 ODI series. In the series-deciding match at Manchester, while chasing 260 for a series win, Pant scored his maiden ODI century for India. The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain made 125 runs off 113 balls, leading India to a 2-1 series victory.
In the first ODI on Wednesday, England won the toss, with Jos Buttler opting to bat first. India are fielding two debutants—opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and pacer Harshit Rana. Star batter Virat Kohli is also absent from the match due to soreness in his right knee.
India and England will face off in the first ODI today, February 6, at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. The second and third ODIs will take place on February 9 and 12 in Cuttack and Ahmedabad, respectively.
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