New Delhi, Jan 2 (NationPress) As the Ajit Agarkar-led national senior selection committee prepares to convene online this Saturday to finalize India's team for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, the question of whether Rishabh Pant will maintain his position in the squad is generating significant attention.

Most players who contributed to the 2-1 ODI series victory over South Africa, including stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, are expected to be included for the three matches against a New Zealand team featuring a blend of young talent and seasoned players.

The series kicks off in Vadodara on January 11, followed by matches in Rajkot and Indore on January 14 and 18, respectively. However, the selection committee's discussion surrounding Pant's inclusion in the ODI squad promises to be particularly intense.

Pant's performance in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy has been inconsistent, with only one half-century in four matches, accumulating 121 runs at an average of 30.25. He hasn't played an ODI since facing Sri Lanka in August 2024, following a significant hiatus due to injuries from a life-threatening car accident in December 2022.

His recent domestic outings have scarcely strengthened his position, especially with KL Rahul's outstanding form as the first-choice keeper-batter, leaving Pant on the sidelines. In 2025, he didn't participate in any ODIs and was an unused member of the victorious Champions Trophy squad, as well as in the series triumph over South Africa.

Complicating matters for Pant is the resurgence of Ishan Kishan, who has secured a spot in the T20 World Cup squad due to his remarkable form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, alongside Dhruv Jurel, who has been making significant runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

With Pant already excluded from India's T20I side and his ODI future appearing grim, he has limited opportunities left, including the IPL and a few Tests later this year, to demonstrate his ongoing significance in India's white-ball strategy.

Additionally, another player likely to be discussed by the selection committee is in-form left-handed batter Devdutt Padikkal, who has notched up three centuries in four games during the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.

However, with captain Shubman Gill returning, along with Rohit, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, it will be intriguing to see how the selectors manage to fit Padikkal into the squad.

As Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are expected to be rested for the ODIs, considering the upcoming T20 World Cup, it will be interesting to observe if Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh could make their mark in the series.

If the young talents are rested to keep them fresh for the T20 World Cup, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami might make a comeback, although the selection committee's decision remains uncertain. The spin department appears stable with the presence of Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav.