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BCCI to favour Ishan Kishan over Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel as India's ODI keeper - Report

Rajgeeta Yadav

Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan [Source: AFP]Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan [Source: AFP]

Ishan Kishan has been in spectacular form lately, showing his best performances in domestic cricket. His current streak of strong performances has put him ahead of other contenders for a spot in India’s upcoming ODI squad against New Zealand. 

Recent reports suggest that wicketkeeper-batters Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant are unlikely to be included in the three-match series.

According to Sportstar report, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), led by the selection committee under Ajit Agarkar, is considering bringing back Ishan Kishan as the reserve wicketkeeper-batter behind KL Rahul. 

It is worth mentioning that the committee appears confident in Ishan's abilities, noting that his performances in domestic tournaments show he is ready to return to the Indian team.

Ishan Kishan’s recent domestic form

Notably, Ishan’s rise comes after an impressive Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which led to his return to the T20 World Cup squad. He continued his excellent form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, playing for Jharkhand. In just one match of the tournament so far, he scored a stunning 125 runs off only 39 balls.

Earlier, in the SMAT 2025, he topped the run charts and played an important role in helping Jharkhand win the title.

Meanwhile, Dhruv Jurel has also caught attention with brilliant performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. He has played four matches, scoring 324 runs at an average of 108 and maintaining a strike rate of 137.87. His tournament started with two back-to-back fifties, followed by a commanding 160 not out against Baroda.

Rishabh Pant’s mixed form in VHT 2025-26

Rishabh Pant has had a quieter period in ODI cricket, with his last appearance dating back to August 2024. He was part of the squad during the South Africa series but did not play any match. 

As the captain of Delhi in the VHT, Pant’s performances have been inconsistent. His recent scores of 5, 70, 22, and 24 indicate a struggle to find rhythm, making selection decisions difficult for the committee.

It is important to note that India’s ODI wicketkeeper-batter spot remains highly competitive. KL Rahul continues as the first choice, while the second spot sees a contest mainly between Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant, and Dhruv Jurel.

Ishan Kishan clearly leads the wicketkeeper race

Having said that, Ishan’s recent explosive performances give him an edge over the others, offering selectors a confident option for the New Zealand ODI series. In today’s Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Kerala at the ADSA Railways Cricket Ground, he scored 21 runs off 21 balls.

Ishan last appeared in an ODI for India on October 11, 2023, against Afghanistan during the ODI World Cup in Delhi, where he scored 47 runs.

Notably, the Indian ODI squad for the three-match series against New Zealand is expected to be announced on January 3. The highly anticipated series will begin on January 11.