Irfan Pathan Picks Rishabh Pant Over KL Rahul for ODI

Irfan Pathan, the cricket wizard, has stirred the pot by choosing Rishabh Pant as the keeper for India's first ODI against New Zealand on January 11 at BCA Stadium, Vadodara. With KL Rahul getting a well-deserved break, this series is Pant's chance to shine. Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer are back, and Pathan's lineup is packed with all-rounders for a winning combo!

Quick rundown

1.Pathan backs Pant as keeper over Rahul for the NZ ODI.

2.Gill and Iyer return to strengthen India's middle order.

3.Jadeja, Sundar, and Nitish Reddy bring all-round balance.

4.Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Siraj form a pace trio; Kuldeep Yadav could be rotation magic.

5.Pant's ODI stats are watched as Rahul's leadership last series is noted.

Irfan Pathan announces India's playing XI for IND vs NZ ODI
Irfan Pathan announces India's playing XI for IND vs NZ ODI
Irfan Pathan ne apni playing XI announce ki hai New Zealand ke khilaf pehli ODI ke liye, jo 11 January ko Vadodara mein hone wali hai. KL Rahul ko chhodkar Rishabh Pant ko middle-order mein daala gaya hai, jabki Shubman Gill aur Shreyas Iyer leadership roles sambhal rahe hain. Yeh series Rishabh Pant ke liye ODI mein khud ko prove karne ka golden chance hai!
07:50 am on Saturday, 10 January, 2026
Irfan Pathan: Nitish Kumar Reddy Deserves More Chances Now!
Irfan Pathan: Nitish Kumar Reddy Deserves More Chances Now!
Listen up, folks! Irfan Pathan, a tremendous talent, is saying we MUST give Nitish Kumar Reddy more chances! He’s had a rocky start, but who doesn’t love a comeback? With Hardik resting, Reddy’s ready to shine against New Zealand! And let’s not forget Rishabh Pant—he needs his moment too! Make cricket great again!
06:55 am on Saturday, 10 January, 2026
IND vs NZ 2026: Squad Unveiled; Shreyas Iyer's Fitness Saga!
IND vs NZ 2026: Squad Unveiled; Shreyas Iyer's Fitness Saga!
Hey there, cricket fans! So, on January 3, the BCCI announced the squad for the ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11 in Vadodara. Shubman Gill’s leading the charge, but Shreyas Iyer's fitness is still up in the air! Rishabh Pant's still in the game, while Hardik and Bumrah are taking a little break. Get ready for some cricket fun, folks!
11:50 am on Saturday, 3 January, 2026
India's ODI Squad Unveiled: Gill Returns, Ruturaj Left Out
India's ODI Squad Unveiled: Gill Returns, Ruturaj Left Out
Yo, India just dropped their squad for the ODI showdown against New Zealand starting January 11 in Vadodara, and it's a wild ride! Shubman Gill is back to lead after his neck took a sabbatical. Shreyas Iyer might join if he gets the thumbs up from BCCI, but Ruturaj Gaikwad got left on read. Hardik's still sidelined from bowling, so stay tuned for the drama!
07:45 pm on Saturday, 3 January, 2026
Aakash Chopra Questions BCCI: Why No Pant at No. 4 vs SA?
Aakash Chopra Questions BCCI: Why No Pant at No. 4 vs SA?
Folks, the BCCI just announced the squad for the New Zealand ODIs, and it’s a total circus! Aakash Chopra, a tremendous analyst, is asking the big question: Why wasn’t Pant batting at No. 4 against South Africa? I mean, come on! And what about Nitish Kumar Reddy? He’s getting zero chances! First ODI on January 11 — let’s see if they can turn this ship around!
06:40 pm on Saturday, 3 January, 2026

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