IND vs SA: Revealed - Why is Rishabh Pant not playing first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi

Rishabh Pant was expected to take the number four spot in Shreyas Iyer’s absence.

On November 30 at Ranchi, India is playing South Africa in the first ODI. The Men in Blue will have to bat first in the game after losing the toss once more. The Indian team’s starting lineup for the game has undergone numerous alterations. The game will be even more fascinating to watch because the pitch conditions appear to be favourable for both batsmen and bowlers.

Indian stand-in captain KL Rahul lost the toss to Aiden Markram, who is captaining South Africa in the absence of Temba Bavuma. The South African captain opted to bowl first, keeping the dew in the evening in mind.

This is a huge chance for India to bounce back in the series after losing the test series in a humiliating manner. After the first ODI in Ranchi, the second match of the series will be played in Raipur on December 3, and the final ODI will be played on December 9 in Vishakhapatnam.

Why is Rishabh Pant not playing the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi?

Meanwhile, India captain KL Rahul unveiled the Indian XI for the first ODI, and one glaring absence was that of Rishabh Pant. The keeper-batter was not part of the Indian squad that played in Australia and, interestingly, has played just one ODI, in Sri Lanka last year.

Yashasvi Jaiswal opened the innings with Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli was slated at the no. 3 spot. Ruturaj Gaikwad made his India comeback and is slated to take the no. 4 spot vacated by Shreyas Iyer due to his injury.

Notably, there were rumours of Rishabh Pant competing with Ruturaj Gaikwad for the middle-order spot, and he was expected to take the gloves as well, with KL Rahul coming in at no. 4 and Pant taking the no. 5 spot.

However, Washington Sundar has been given the duty of batting at no. 5, with KL Rahul taking the no. 6 spot and the wicketkeeping gloves. Ravindra Jadeja follows next with Harshit Rana at no. 8.

Kuldeep Yadav is the lone specialist spinner, with Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna as the two pacers.

It seems like Rishabh Pant will have to wait for his turn in the Indian ODI side. Ruturaj Gaikwad has done marvellously well in Indian domestic cricket in white-ball formats and gives India a right-handed option in the middle order as well.  

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