Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has been sidelined from India's second ODI against Australia in Rajkot on Friday.
India lost the first ODI in Mumbai by 10 wickets – and are priced at 1.80 to win the second with Bet365. Defeat in the series opener came at the hands of an unbroken double-century partnership between Australian openers David Warner and Aaron Finch.
Pant was hit on the helmet by a short delivery from fast bowler Pat Cummins. He did not retire hurt and was eventually dismissed for 28. He did not keep wicket during Australia's innings. Batsman KL Rahul instead performed the role in a stand-in capacity.
India do not have a second specialist wicketkeeper in the squad. Rahul will retain the role in an interim capacity – or the talented Sanju Samson might be added to the squad.
Meanwhile, opening batsman Prithvi Shaw has recovered from injury to join India A's tour of New Zealand. He had hurt a shoulder during a Ranji Trophy fixture, but has since recovered.
This was not Shaw's first stint on the sidelines of professional cricket. In 2019, he was suspended for a doping violation. That suspension has since ended.
Pant, Shaw and Rahane with Delhi at the IPL
Pant and Shaw will play for the Delhi Capitals in the 2020 Indian Premier League. The Capitals (formerly known as the Daredevils) have never won an IPL title. The Delhi franchise will also have new batsman Ajinkya Rahane.
“Rahane, Rajasthan Royals' most-capped player will now move to Delhi Capitals following a successful trade. Rahane, who captained RR in 24 matches and represented them in 100 IPL games from 2011 to 2015 and again in 2018 and 2019, was also their top run-getter, having scored 2810 runs at an average of 34.26 and a strike-rate of 122.65. Rahane also scored two centuries for the Royals and made 17 half-centuries,” read a statement from Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Jay Shah last year.
Rahane has not played an ODI in two years and a T20I in four. He has remained a relatively permanent fixture in India's Test XI throughout, though.
“In the last two years, I don't like to tell people that my record is good but yes the fact is, my record is good. Cricket is a funny game and anything can happen. I definitely hope to come back into the ODI team,” he told PTI recently.
