Rishabh Pant is going to be absent from Delhi’s next Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 match against Railways on January 6. His fellow senior player, Virat Kohli, also did not choose to play for Delhi after participating in a few games last week.
According to sources, Pant will not participate in Delhi’s next match to meet up with the Indian team in Baroda due to the home ODI series with New Zealand.
Rishabh Pant prepares for ODI return by missing the Delhi match
It was reported by Revsportz on the next day, January 5; Rishabh Pant will be the second player after Virat Kohli to skip the Delhi’s game in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy against Railways at KSCA Cricket Stadium, Alur on January 6.
The report further mentioned that the Indian batter-wicketkeeper will not be playing the match as he is preparing to join the Indian team in Baroda on January 7, Wednesday. It is noted that Rishabh Pant was included in the Indian ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand, which means his return to the 50-overs international format after almost a year and a half. Pant’s last involvement in ODI cricket was in August 2024, when he played during India’s tour of Sri Lanka for the ODI series.
The Indian side, which includes a captain and fellow comeback kid Shubman Gill, is likely to gather in Baroda for the first ODI of the series against New Zealand on January 11 later this week at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium.
Rishabh Pant has thus far represented the Delhi team in five matches in the current 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy season. The explosive left-handed batter scored 188 runs in five innings at an impressive average of 47, along with his wicket-keeping duties.