Rishabh Pant ruled out of Australia tour; 3-way fight erupts between Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma, Dhruv Jurel
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Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant is likely to miss the upcoming India tour of Australia owing to his delayed return from injury, as per ESPNCricinfo. As a result of this, India will have to consider fresh options as India's backup wicket-keeper in the series, considering KL Rahul as the first-choice keeper in the side.
The India vs Australia ODI series is a highly anticipated tour for the Men in Blue ahead of next year's T20 World Cup. However, one major hindrance for the Indian team has been their series of injuries. The likes of Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya, are all likely to miss the upcoming tour.
The series will have 8 white ball games, starting with the ODIs to be played from the 19th of October, while the 5 T20I matches will be played from the 29th of October to the 8th of November.
Rishabh Pant injured - Who shall India consider bringing in as their second-choice wicketkeeper?
Rishabh Pant is likely to miss the upcoming tour to Australia, owing to the injury he sustained at Old Trafford Stadium in the India vs England series back in July. He is still recovering from the fractured foot at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Pant was considered the second-choice backup wicket-keeper in the Indian side after he made his comeback into the India side in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Pant was considered India's backup for KL Rahul in the format.
Now in his absence, India will have to consider new players who can be swapped into the role. Sanju Samson was part of the ODI Squad back in December 2023, and since then, no other player has been picked in a wicket-keeper's role.
He scored his maiden ODI hundred in the series. However, the likes of Jitesh Sharma and even Dhruv Jurel, who recently scored his maiden Test hundred, might be considered to feature in India's recent ODI as well as T20I squads.
Tilak Varma to make it to the ODI squad after Asia Cup heroics?
Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's presence in the ODI squad would also be doubtful amid the doubts on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's selection in the Indian squad. The likes of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar might also be on standby for the Indian side.
After a rocking outing in the India A vs Australia A series, Riyan Parag, the spin-bowling all-rounder, performed stunningly with the bat. Parag's back-to-back half-century might make him a great contender for the Indian side.
Another name that has often made the rounds over social media is that of Tilak Varma. The left-handed middle-order batter played a match-winning knock of 69* in the Asia Cup final. Tilak, who had the scores of 67 and 58 for India A, scored a fighting 94 in the second match of the Australia A vs India A series.
Tilak might be considered a rightful contender for the ODI side, as he could strengthen India's middle-order batting. Tilak is also known to bowl in a few overs with his part-time off-spin.
Who will replace Hardik Pandya for the Australia tour?
Indian veteran all-rounder Hardik Pandya, just like Rishabh Pant, is likely to miss the upcoming Australian tour. Unlike Rishabh Pant's, Hardik's missing out still has a possibility of being overturned.
Pandya suffered from a quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup, which even ruled him out of the Final; however, he might be replaced by players like Nitish Kumar Reddy or even Asia Cup winner Shivam Dube.
Nitish Kumar Reddy is yet to make an ODI debut; however, Shivam Dube seems a more likely option to replace Hardik. It remains to be seen if Hardik Pandya, unlike Rishabh Pant, can make a quick recovery ahead of the series.
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India National Cricket Team Australia National Cricket Team India vs Australia Rishabh Pant Nitish Kumar Reddy Hardik Pandya Shubman Gill Yashasvi Jaiswal KL Rahul Dhruv Jurel Sanju Samson
